# NTSB CEN23LA069: Cessna 150J, N51115, South St. Paul, MN, December 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 26, 2022, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: South St. Paul, MN · Fleming Field Municipal Airport - Coordinates: 44.857217, -93.033093 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8572&lon=-93.0331&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: 1 uninjured - 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): 106503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106503/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106503 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA069 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the take-off roll with a snow and ice covered runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/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 150J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 150J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 150J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071820), [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 150J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he took off from Runway 34 and intended to practice take-offs and landings. After landing the airplane without incident, he raised the flaps and added full power to take off again; however, the airplane veered to the left during the take-off roll. The student pilot added right rudder to keep the airplane on centerline but was unsuccessful. Once airborne, the left wing struck a snowbank on the side of the runway, which caused the airplane to pivot left. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest inverted, nose first in the snowbank. The outboard side of the right wing sustained substantial damage to the skin, ribs, and spars. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, Runway 34 was covered in ice and snow. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51115](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51115), registered now, S/N 15069777 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069777 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 2574 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Condor Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Condor Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 15, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SGS, Fleming Field, runway 34, 4,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 41 total, 39 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 9 °F, dew point -4 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: KSGS - METAR: KSGS 261735Z AUTO 36003KT 10SM CLR M13/M20 A3035 RMK AO2 T11331196 ## 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 20221226019609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221226019609A), Dec 26, 2022: Cessna 150J, South St Paul, MN, Substantial damage. The student pilot (PIC) was working on solo touch and goes utilizing runway 34. During the transition from the landing rollout to the takeoff roll, the PIC… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106503. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15197753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident_Report--CEN23LA069_115_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15031681&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident_Photos_CEN23LA069-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. --- 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.