# NTSB CEN21LA262: Cessna 150H, Muncie, IN, June 11, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2021, 20:28 local (Jun 11, 2021, 00:28 UTC)
- Place: Muncie, IN · Grass strip at 7180S County Road 300 W, Muncie, IN
- Coordinates: 40.127503, -85.438765
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1275&lon=-85.4388&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103249
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103249/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103249
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA262

## Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on departure in high density altitude conditions which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A pilot-rated witness reported that the non-certificated pilot shortly after taking off from a 1,200 ft private grass airstrip, was starting a turn to the north to avoid trees when the airplane “stalled, fell sideways from the sky”, and impacted the ground left wing first, followed by the airplane’s nose and then the right wing. The witness said that the airplane appeared underpowered for the hot and humid weather conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. A post-accident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The density altitude at the time of the accident was 3,314 ft. The airstrip elevation was 937 ft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15068432
- Year built: 1968
- Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway East, 1,200 × 0 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KMIE, 7 nm away
- METAR: KMIE 102353Z 09004KT 10SM CLR 31/18 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP099 T03060183 10317 20278 56010

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103249. 960 KB in all.

- Witness interview (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12377603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- FAA examination memo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12378940&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Examination%20Memo-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12377835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Pilot certification memo (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12382338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Certificate%20Memo_Redacted-Rel.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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