CHI00LA008

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150F · East Troy, WI · October 13, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 13, 1999, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
Place
East Troy, WI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N7941FCessna 150F
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 30, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19991013037059A
Case key
47563

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the pilot not maintaining directional control and not obtaining a proper climb rate. Factors were the gusts, and the ground loop that was encountered. A finding was the pilot atempted a go-around.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Go-around - attemptedPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Proper climb rate - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - encounteredPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The pilot completed two full stop solo landings on runway 26 and aborted the third. He realized the winds had '...picked up somewhat with occasional gusts on the third approach.' He stated about his last approach that 'at flare/touchdown a gust caused the aircraft to become airborne and turn to the left.' The pilot said he applied power to attempt a go around and the 'airplane continued [its] left turn, [and] then began descending.' He said the left main landing gear contacted the ground, which caused the aircraft to ground loop and the 'aircraft came to rest facing north in the center of the grass runway 18/36.' The pilot listed damage to the nose gear, right main landing gear, propeller, engine mount, both outboard wing tips, and horizontal stabilizer. An on-scene examination of the accident airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. Wind at General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin was 340 degrees at 13 knots gusts to 20 knots.

Factual narrative

On October 13, 1999, at 0820 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N7941F, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a go around from runway 26 (3,900 feet X 75 feet, dry/asphalt) at East Troy Municipal Airport, East Troy, Wisconsin. The local solo instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained no injuries. The flight originated from East Troy Municipal Airport at 0735. The pilot was performing crosswind takeoffs and landings at the time of the accident.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he checked weather and preflighted the airplane at 0715. He stated that he departed runway 26 to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings. He said that he completed two full stop landings. The pilot stated that he aborted the third and that he realized the winds had "...picked up somewhat with occasional gusts on the third approach." He said about his last approach that "...everything appeared normal on crossing [the] threshold of runway 26." He stated, "at flare/touchdown a gust caused the aircraft to become airborne and turn to the left." The pilot said that he applied power to attempt a go around. He stated that the "aircraft continued [its] left turn, [and] then began descending." He said that the left main landing gear contacted the ground, which caused the aircraft to ground loop. The pilot stated the, "aircraft came to rest facing north in the center of the grass runway 18/36." The pilot listed the nose gear, right main landing gear, propeller, engine mount, both outboard wing tips, and horizontal stabilizer as airplane damage.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed an on-scene examination of the accident airplane. The examination did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The student reported to the inspector that the airplane was operating normally.

At 0756, the General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin weather observation was: Wind 350 degrees at 9 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 2,200 feet overcast 4,900 feet; temperature 12 degrees C; dew point 7 degrees C; altimeter 29.86 inches of mercury.

At 0856, the General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin weather observation was: Wind 340 degrees at 13 knots gusts to 20 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition overcast 2,400 feet; temperature 11 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 29.88 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N7941F
Reported as
Cessna 150F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
150-64041
Airframe hours
2,964
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert L. Washburn
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · September 12, 1999 · 40 hours before
Departed
57C
Airport
57C · East Troy Municipal, runway 26, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
42
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
67 total · 50 in this make and model · 27 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 13 knots, gusting 20
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,400 ft overcast
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
MKE, 23 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N7941F · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.