# NTSB CEN14CA381: Cessna 150D, N4545U, Greenfield, IN, July 21, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2014, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Greenfield, IN
- Coordinates: 39.843612, -85.896942
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8436&lon=-85.8969&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA381
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89709/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89709
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA381

## Probable cause

The student pilot failed to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot, who was on his second solo flight, reported that he maintained 68 mph and was on centerline of runway 25 with a slight left crosswind correction as he flared the airplane for landing. After touchdown, the airplane started drifting to the left. He reported that he attempted to correct the drift by applying rudder; however, he applied both the brakes and rudder causing the airplane to veer off the left side of the runway. The propeller impacted the ground, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The student pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident. The recorded wind at the airport was 170 degrees at 4 knots.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot, who was on his second solo flight, reported that he maintained 68 mph and was on centerline of runway 25 with a slight left crosswind correction as he flared the airplane for landing. After touchdown, the airplane started drifting to the left. He reported that he attempted to correct the drift by applying rudder; however, he applied both the brakes and rudder causing the airplane to veer off the left side of the runway. The propeller impacted the ground, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The student pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident. The recorded wind at the airport was 170 degrees at 4 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4545U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4545U-2015-12-17), registration cancelled 2015-12-17, S/N 15060545, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150D
- Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15060545
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 5964
- Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Indy Jet Center
- Registered owner: R2 Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2014
- Departed: MQJ, Greenfield, IN
- Destination: MQJ, Greenfield, IN
- Airport: MQJ, Indianapolis Regional Airport, runway 25, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 16; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 21 total, 19 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: MQJ

## 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 20140721012459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140721012459A), Jul 21, 2014: Cessna 150D, Greenfield, IN, Substantial damage. On July 21, 2014, at approximately 3:45 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150D, N4545U, sustained substantial damage following impact with the ground when it…

## Other investigations on N4545U (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI76FEM40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEM40), May 10, 1976: Cessna 150 (N4545U), Lamont, MI, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89709. 4.3 MB in all.

- NTSB 6120-1 Pilot Report (item 1, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%206120-1%20Pilot%20Report-Redacted.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.

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