# NTSB CEN16LA350: Cessna 150L, N18601, Upham, ND, August 31, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 2016, 20:35 local (Aug 31, 2016, 01:35 UTC) - Place: Upham, ND - Coordinates: 48.582221, -100.849723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5822&lon=-100.8497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA350 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93948/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93948 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA350 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain a proper aimpoint during landing due to reduced visibility from the setting sun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had completed a local flight and was landing at his unlighted grass airstrip toward the west shortly after sunset. While landing, the airplane impacted a riverbank short of the runway, about 6 ft below the elevation of the runway, which caused the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot did not recall the accident but reported that there were no malfunctions with the airplane that would have contributed to the accident. It is likely that the pilot did not obtain a proper aimpoint during the approach due to reduced visibility from the setting sun, which resulted in a landing short of the runway. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 2016, about 2035 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna 150L airplane, N18601, impacted terrain short of the grass runway at Rosenau Airport (21ND), Upham, North Dakota. The private pilot, the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was privately registered and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight departed from 21ND about 1900. The pilot reported that he was returning from a local pleasure flight and was approaching his unlighted, grass airstrip to land to the west, and into the setting sun. He said the sun had already set, but there was light to the west. He did not remember the crash. The airplane impacted a river bank near the approach end of the runway, 6 ft below the elevation of the runway, nosed over and traveled 42 ft before coming to rest upside down. Sunset occurred at 2032 and civil twilight ended at 2104. Examination of the airplane showed that the fuselage was buckled behind the cockpit and the left wing spar was bent. The pilot indicated on his submitted NTSB Accident/Incident report there were no malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot did not hold a current medical certificate. The pilot's reported last medical examination was for a third class medical on May 5, 2012. The last annual inspection of the airplane was November 30, 2013. No pilot or maintenance logbooks were recovered during the investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18601](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18601-2018-03-12), registration cancelled 2018-03-12, S/N 15073976, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L (M) - 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: 15073976 - Year built: 1972 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2013 - Departed: 21ND, Upham, ND - Destination: 21ND, Upham, ND - Airport: 21ND, Rosenau, runway 26, 2,500 × 40 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 292 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 28.27 inHg - Observed at: KMOT, 26 nm away ## 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 20160830015489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160830015489A), Aug 30, 2016: Cessna 150L, Upham, ND, Substantial damage. According to witnesses PIC decided to go for an evening flight. Length of flight is unknown. Aircraft departed private farm strip. Upon return aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93948. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 914 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Memo for Record - FAA Report (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480908&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Emails (item 4, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Emails-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.