CHI03LA054

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Charleston, MO · January 12, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 12, 2003, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Charleston, MO
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N66507Cessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 28, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20030112000639A
Case key
56398

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

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Probable cause

the inadequate flare by the pilot. Factors were the loose trim tab cable for undetermined reasons.

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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Flt control syst,elevator control cable/rod - looseFactor

Analysis

The airplane impacted the runway during landing in a nose low attitude. The pilot reported elevator control stiffness during his first approach for landing which was then followed by a go-around and the accident landing. No anomalies were noted when the elevators and ailerons were checked to ensure full unrestricted travel. There was no excessive play in the elevator, rudder, ailerons, and elevator. The elevator trim cable did not possess any tension relative to the 10-20 pound tension cited in the manufacturer’s maintenance manual. The lack of elevator trim cable tension did not preclude operation of the elevator trim.

Factual narrative

On January 12, 2003, at 1300 central standard time, a Cessna 150M, N66507, owned and piloted by a recreational pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Mississippi County Airport (CHQ), Charleston, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot received no injuries. The flight originated from Everett-Stewart Airport, Union City, Tennessee, at 1200, en route to CHQ.

The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration that there was elevator control stiffness during his first approach for landing.

In the pilot's written statement he reported that he executed a go-around which was then followed by the accident landing. The airplane impacted the runway in a nose low attitude.

An operational check of the airplane flight controls was preformed by the Federal Aviation Administration. No anomalies were noted when the elevators and ailerons were checked to ensure full unrestricted travel. There was no excessive play in the elevator, rudder, ailerons, and elevator. The elevator trim cable did not possess any tension relative to the 10-20 pound tension cited in the Cessna Maintenance Manual. The lack of elevator trim cable tension did not preclude operation of the elevator trim.

Aircraft

Registration
N66507
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15076087
Airframe hours
6,045
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 30, 2002 · 50 hours before
Departed
UCY · Union City, TN
Destination
Charleston, MO
Airport
CHQ · Mississippi County Airport, runway 36, 3,200 × 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
61
Injuries
None
Certificate
Recreational
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
February 3, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
375 total · 124 in this make and model · 300 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
32 °F, dew point 10 °F
Altimeter
30.46 inHg
Observed at
CGI

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2004, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 343 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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