# NTSB CEN23LA416: Cessna 150L, N5460Q, Montrose, CO, September 21, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 21, 2023, 09:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Montrose, CO - Coordinates: 38.501476, -107.89478 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5015&lon=-107.8948&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 193121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA416 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA416 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a gusting quartering headwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [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 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the third stop-and-go landing, the airplane touched down and veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the pilot encountered an unexpected wind gust, and the airplane weather vaned to the right. The airplane ground looped to the right, partially collapsing the left main landing gear, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage structure. The 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, the pilot was landing on runway 17 with wind from 200° at 12 knots and gusting to 21 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5460Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5460Q), registered now, S/N 15073360 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - 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: 15073360 - Airframe hours: 3963 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MTJ, Montrose Rgnl, runway 17, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 9, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,205 total, 88 in this make and model, 3,210 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KMTJ - METAR: KMTJ 211653Z AUTO 20012G21KT 10SM CLR 22/00 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02220000 ## 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 20230921018099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230921018099A), Sep 21, 2023: Cessna 150L, Montrose, CO, Minor damage. The instructor pilot was conducting a part 91 training lfight for a private pilot student. On the day of the accident, the instructor pilot was demonstarting… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193121. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16234711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16243422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.