# NTSB CEN15LA099: Cessna 195B, N2125C, Llano, TX, January 6, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 2015, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Llano, TX
- Coordinates: 30.784166, -98.599998
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7842&lon=-98.6000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90579/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90579
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA099

## Probable cause

The pilot’s overrotation of the airplane when lifting the tail during the takeoff roll, which allowed the propeller to come in contact with the runway and resulted in a reduction in engine power and the pilot’s subsequent loss of directional control.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 195B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 195B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073112), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said that, when the tailwheel lifted off the runway, the engine lost power, and he thought it had quit. The airplane then pitched forward, and the propeller struck the asphalt runway. The airplane turned slightly right, went off the side of the runway, and nosed over. An examination of the runway found at least 15 propeller strikes in the runway pavement, which is indicative of the engine producing power and driving the propeller. Tire tracks and propeller strikes were observed going off the right side of the runway into the dirt and ending where the airplane nosed over. No anomalies were found with the airplane's controls, engine, or other systems. The pilot likely overrotated the airplane when he lifted the tail for takeoff, and the propeller then struck the runway, which resulted in a reduction of engine power and the pilot's subsequent loss of directional control.

## Factual narrative

On January 6, 2015, about 1545 central standard time, a Cessna 195B, N2125C, impacted terrain during takeoff from the Llano Municipal Airport, Llano, Texas. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. 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 at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that when the tail wheel lifted off the runway, there was a loss of engine power. The engine went from full power to idle power and the pilot thought the engine had quit. The airplane pitched forward and the propeller struck the asphalt runway. The airplane turned slightly to the right, went off the runway, and nosed over. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors went to the accident site and reported finding no fewer than 15 propeller marks in the runway pavement. Towards the end of the runway, the inspectors noted a white scrape mark consistent with the lower engine cowling scraping the runway as the airplane slid along the pavement. They also documented tire tracks and propeller strikes going off the right side of the runway into the dirt and ending where the airplane nosed over. No anomalies were found with the airplane's controls, engine, or other systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2125C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2125C), registered now, S/N 16110 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 195B
- Registry model: [Cessna 195B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195b) (registry code 2073112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 16110
- Year built: 1954
- Airframe hours: 2633
- Engines: Jacobs R-755B2 275 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Timothy P. Sager
- Registered owner: Timothy P. Sager
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 2014, 14 hours before
- Departed: KAQO, Llano, TX
- Destination: KDTO, Denton, TX
- Airport: KAQO, Llano Municipal Airport, runway 17, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,879 total, 75 in this make and model, 4,744 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observed at: KAQO

## 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 20150106003969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150106003969A), Jan 6, 2015: Cessna 195B, Llano, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was departing on runway 17 from Llano airport (aqo) Llano, Texas enroute to denton municipal airport denton, Texas (dto). According to pilot on takeoff…

## Other investigations on N2125C (2)

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 SEA98LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA149), Jul 25, 1998: Cessna 195B (N2125C), Ashland, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB FTW79DRJ15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DRJ15), Jun 30, 1979: Cessna 195B (N2125C), Tyler, TX, substantial damage

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90579. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Information (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425649&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Tire Tracks (Photo Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Tire%20Tracks%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Tire Marks (Photo Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 5, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Tire%20Marks%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Propeller Strikes in Pavement (Photo Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 6, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Propeller%20Strikes%20in%20Pavement%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Scrape Mark (Photo Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 7, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Scrape%20Mark%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 - Track Marks (Photo Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 8, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Track%20Marks%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF
- Photo 6 - Tire Tracks and Propeller Strikes (Photo Courtesy of Insurance Adjuster) (item 9, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Tire%20Tracks%20and%20Propeller%20Strikes%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-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.

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