# NTSB CEN15LA114: Cessna 150G, N2871S, Pontiac, IL, January 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2015, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Pontiac, IL - Coordinates: 40.924446, -88.623886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9244&lon=-88.6239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90631/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90631 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA114 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s loss of directional control during an attempted go-around with a crosswind. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during examination of the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was attempting to land the airplane but conducted an attempted go-around. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane. The student pilot reported that, as the flight instructor was attempting the second landing, the airplane bounced, at which time, the flight instructor initiated a go-around. The flight instructor reported that the engine then began to sputter and that, when he turned off the carburetor heat, the engine quit as the airplane was about 5 ft above the ground. He further stated that a right crosswind pushed the airplane to the left and that he subsequently attempted to land the airplane in a field left of the runway; however, the landing gear sunk into the snow, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. Examination of the airplane, engine, and carburetor revealed no anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. Based on the available information, it is likely that the flight instructor lost directional control during the attempted go-around, which resulted in an off-runway landing and a subsequent nose-over. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2015, about 1100 central standard time, a Cessna 150G airplane, N2871S, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground and nosed over following a loss of engine power during a go-around from runway 24 at the Pontiac Municipal Airport (PNT), Pontiac, Illinois. The flight instructor was not injured and the student pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane sustained damage to the wing, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Griffith Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Griffith-Merrillville Airport (05C), Griffith, Indiana, about 1000.The student pilot reported that they were making a straight in approach to runway 24 at PNT. At this time the student pilot was manipulating the airplane controls. The attempted landing resulted in a go-around and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. Another landing attempt was made with the flight instructor manipulating the controls and the student observing. During the landing the airplane "was not steady and would bounce". The flight instructor attempted a go-around and advanced the throttle control. During the climb, the student pilot heard "a sound," and the airplane veered to the left and stopped climbing. He said that when the airplane touched down it flipped over. The flight instructor reported that while performing a go-around, the engine began to sputter. He stated that when he pushed the carburetor heat control forward, the engine quit. He stated that this occurred when the airplane was about 5 ft above ground level. The right crosswind pushed the airplane to the left. The flight instructor attempted to land in a field to the right of the runway but the airplane landing gear sunk into the snow and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane failed to reveal any defects although the wings had been removed for transport and the engine had been removed in preparation for examination. A complete teardown examination of the airplane's engine was performed following the accident. No defects were found. The carburetor was disassembled and the fuel bowl was clean and no defects were noted. The weather conditions at the accident airport at 1055 were: Wind 290 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 26 knots; 10 statute miles visibility; overcast ceiling at 2,200 feet above ground level; temperature -14 degrees Celsius; dew point -18 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.38 inches of mercury. According to a carburetor icing probability graph, the recorded temperature and dew point were outside of the range of susceptibility for carburetor icing. The runway used for the attempted landing, runway 24, was 5,000 ft long and 75 ft wide. The student pilot reported that there was no snow or ice on the runway, but there were snow banks along the sides ofthe runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2871S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2871S-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 15066771, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066771 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 7409 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Griffith Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Griffith Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 9, 2014, 30 hours before - Departed: 05C, GRIFFITH, IN - Destination: PNT, Pontiac, IL - Airport: PNT, Pontiac Muni, runway 24, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2014; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 500 total, 190 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 22.2 total, 19.3 in this make and model, 0.5 as pilot in command, 22.2 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: PNT ## 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 20150109000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150109000129A), Jan 9, 2015: Cessna 150G, Pontiac, IL, Substantial damage. During a student pilot cross country the instructor initiated a go around during approach to landing due to gusty wind conditions (gust to 28 reported). When… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90631. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120 – Instructor (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%206120%20%E2%80%93%20Instructor-Redacted.PDF - Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120 – Student (item 2, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%206120%20%E2%80%93%20Student-Redacted.PDF - Field Examination Notes (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Field%20Examination%20Notes-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Graph (item 4, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Graph-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.