# NTSB CEN15CA074: Cessna 150L, N6985G, New Buffalo, MN, November 16, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 16, 2014, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: New Buffalo, MN - Coordinates: 44.719467, -93.430587 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7195&lon=-93.4306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminiostration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90481/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90481 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA074 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during landing. Contributing was the snow on the runway surface. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway during landing while on an instructional flight with a student pilot and a flight instructor. During the landing, the airplane's left main landing gear wheel contacted snow on the runway, which resulted in the airplane veering into a snowbank along the runway edge and impacting the ground with the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the right wing contacted the ground. The flight instructor reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Factual narrative The airplane veered off the runway during landing while on an instructional flight with a student pilot and a flight instructor. During the landing, the airplane's left main landing gear wheel contacted snow on the runway, which resulted in the airplane veering into a snowbank along the runway edge and impacting the ground with the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the right wing contacted the ground. The flight instructor reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal airplane operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6985G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6985G), registered now, S/N 15072485, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072485 - Airframe hours: 4115.93 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Student Pilot - Registered owner: Student Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2013 - Departed: FCM, Eden Prairie, MN - Destination: FCE, Buffalo, MN - Airport: CFE, Buffalo Municipal, runway 18, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14 total, 13 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 634 total, 6 in this make and model, 603 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 96 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: CFE ## 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 20141116020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141116020819A), Nov 16, 2014: Cessna 150L, Buffalo, MN, Substantial damage. During landing, the left main landing gear stuck a snow drift. This caused the aircraft to veer left, and the right main gear to begin skidding on the runway.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90481. 834 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.