# NTSB CEN11LA575: Cessna 150H, N6953S, Sabetha, KS, August 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 2011, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Sabetha, KS - Coordinates: 39.904167, -95.779441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9042&lon=-95.7794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 81493 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA575 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81493/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81493 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA575 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of certification to act as a pilot and his lack of recent experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to witnesses, the airplane stalled four times while on final approach; the airplane would pull up, and then the nose would drop. The airplane finally nosed over from an altitude of 35 to 40 feet and impacted terrain. The pilot did not hold a valid pilot certificate and had been denied medical certification for, among other things, bilateral cataracts. The pilot reported no flight time in the preceding 90 days, and additionally reported that the airplane had no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2011, at 1038 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6953S, impacted terrain during takeoff from Sabetha Municipal Airport (K83), Sabetha, Kansas. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating from K83. In his accident report, the 84-year-old pilot said that he had a heart valve replacement in early May 2011. Not wanting to pay unnecessary hangar rent, he decided to fly his airplane to his farm, where he had a 2,500-foot grass runway and a hangar. Lacking recent landing experience on grass runways, he aborted the landing attempt and returned to Sabetha. On his accident report, the pilot did not indicate there had been an accident. In addition, he indicated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He indicated he had logged 70 hours total time, 45 hours as pilot-in-command, but no flight time in the previous 90 days. A witness saw the airplane as it approached the airport. He said the airplane would stall and the nose would drop, and the airplane would lose altitude. Then the nose would come up and the airplane would climb, then stall again. These oscillations occurred about four times and the airplane continuously lost altitude. The airplane stalled from an altitude of about 35 to 40 feet, impacted the ground, and nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector said the pilot did not hold a valid pilot certificate. He had been granted special medical authorizations in October 2006 and December 2007, but was denied medical certification in July of 2008. Denial was based upon, among other things, bilateral cataracts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6953S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6953S-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 15067653, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067653 - Airframe hours: 4500 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alvin R. Wenger - Registered owner: Alvin R. Wenger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: K83, Sabetha, KS - Destination: K83, Sabetha, KS - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: K83, Sabetha Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 70 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: STJ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110814024729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110814024729A), Aug 14, 2011: Cessna 150H, Sabetha, KS, Substantial damage. A witness described the flight path on final to landing as an aircraft stalling, dipping to recover, and then stalling again, repeating several times, with the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81493. 2.2 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355291&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - E-Mails (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mails-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 745 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Front view of N6953E, showing damage to nose section. (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Front%20view%20of%20N6953E,%20showing%20damage%20to%20nose%20section.-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.