# NTSB CEN24LA297: Cessna 150F, N8840S, Castroville, TX, July 31, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2024, 19:15 local (Jul 31, 2024, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Castroville, TX · Runway 16
- Coordinates: 29.3419, -98.850899 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3419&lon=-98.8509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- 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: Federal Aviation Administration - San Antonio FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194828
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194828/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194828
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA297

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain proper airplane pitch control and airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.

## Findings

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

- [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 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: [Cessna 150F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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 150F, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071814), [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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings with a gusting left crosswind when the airplane bounced upon touchdown on the runway. The pilot reported he increased the throttle to takeoff power for a go-around, but the airplane drifted off the right side of the runway and entered an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. The airplane came to rest upright in a crop field adjacent to the runway with substantial damage to both wings and the left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8840S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8840S), registered now, S/N 15062140, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15062140
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 4196
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Blue Thunder Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Blue Thunder Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2024, 29 hours before
- Departed: CVB, Castroville, TX
- Airport: CVB, Castroville Municipal Airport, runway 16, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review August 10, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 263 total, 3 in this make and model, 255 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: CVB
- METAR: METAR KCVB 302355Z AUTO 16010G16KT 7SM SCT055 A2992 RMK AO2

## 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 20240730011289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240730011289A), Jul 30, 2024: Cessna 150F, Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot and a passenger were practicing landings in the recently acquired aircraft. After several successful landings, the pilot made a touchdown on the FAR…

## Other investigations on N8840S (3)

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.

- [NTSB LAX71DUJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71DUJ02), Jul 7, 1970: Cessna 150 (N8840S), Cottonwood, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX68D0242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68D0242), Dec 30, 1967: Cessna 150 (N8840S), Riverside, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX66D0346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66D0346), Apr 25, 1966: Cessna 150 (N8840S), Temecula, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194828. 6.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18146665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statements (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 936 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18146179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airplane maintenance summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18146771&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Airplane%20Maintenance%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Meteorological data (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18147182&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Meteorological%20Data-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18146675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-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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