# NTSB CEN23LA091: Cessna 150G, N2930J, Pocahantas, IA, December 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 19, 2022, 19:15 local (Dec 20, 2022, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Pocahantas, IA · POH Airport - Coordinates: 42.742889, -94.647361 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7429&lon=-94.6474&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106625/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106625 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA091 ## Probable cause The pilot’s landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. Contributing to the accident was the airplane's encounter with adverse weather conditions which led to structural icing that affected flight characteristics and obscured the pilot's vision. Also contributing to the accident were the self-induced and external pressures that influenced the pilot’s decision to initiate and continue the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 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) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: obscuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-instrument rated private pilot reported that, during a night cross-country flight, the airplane encountered ice that began to accumulate on the windshield and obscured the pilot's vision. The pilot reported that during landing he had no pitch control, the airplane landed hard, and bounced. On the third bounce, the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated in his report that he allowed external factors to influence his decision making related to the flight. He noted that he wanted to make it back home for the Christmas holiday and that he had already missed a day of work. He also stated that he did not obtain updated weather information and that if he had he may have made the decision to not start the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2930J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2930J), registered now, S/N 15065730, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - 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: 15065730 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 4500 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2022 - Departed: KSAZ, Staples, MN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: POH, Pocahontas Muni, runway 30, 4,100 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 125 total, 25 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Observed at: KFOD, 24 nm away - METAR: KFOD 200056Z AUTO 31007KT 9SM -SN OVC009 M03/M04 A3027 RMK AO2 SNE22B40 CIG 006V011 SLP284 P0000 ## 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 20221219020449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221219020449A), Dec 19, 2022: Cessna 150G, Pocahontas, IA, Substantial damage. Pilot was on a cross country flight from K69K - ksaz - K69K to pick up a passenger for the holidays. With forecasted IFR weather the pilot with a passengers… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106625. 23.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 19.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15225470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15226761&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20N2930J_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. --- 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.