# NTSB CHI04LA054: Cessna 150E, N3088J, Princeton, MO, January 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 2004, 18:30 local (Jan 11, 2004, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Princeton, MO - Coordinates: 40.420833, -93.598892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4208&lon=-93.5989&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58613 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58613/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA054 ## Probable cause The encounter with the unknown snow drifts during landing. The factors were the snow drifts, night, and the airport's failure to issue a NOTAM on the runway conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - snow covered - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - flight advisories - not issued, airport personnel (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over on contact with a snow drift during a night landing. The pilot stated, "On approach slowed to 60 [knots] airspeed and three notches flaps on touchdown the wheels seemed to slow that pulled nose wheel down and it seemed to slow also, when the nose wheel slowed I lost control, veered to the left somewhat. At about 150 feet the plane flipped tail over nose at edge of runway. Upon exiting plane, determined there was 6" to 8" of snow [at] 1830 PM." The pilot did not list any mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight. The airport did not issue any notice to airmen (NOTAM) to the Flight Service Station concerning the runway conditions present at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 2004, about 1830 central standard time, a Cessna 150E, N3088J, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft nosed over on contact with a snow drift during landing on runway 36 at Princeton-Kauffman Memorial Airport (7MO), near Princeton, Missouri. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The personal flight originated at Macon-Fower Memorial Airport (K89) at 1730, and was landing 7MO at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: Left K89 at approximately 17:30 PM [the] wind was calm, [and] had good flight to 7MO. On approach slowed to 60 [knots] airspeed and three notches flaps on touchdown the wheels seemed to slow that pulled nose wheel down and it seemed to slow also, when the nose wheel slowed I lost control, veered to the left somewhat. At about 150 feet the plane flipped tail over nose at edge of runway. Upon exiting plane, determined there was 6" to 8" of snow [at] 1830 PM. At 1856, the recorded weather at Lamoni Municipal Airport (LWD), Lamoni, Iowa, located approximately 19 miles northwest of 7MO, was: Wind 180 degrees at 10 knots; visibility 5 statute miles; present weather haze; sky condition clear; temperature -2 degrees C; dew point -5 degrees C; altimeter 30.18 inches of mercury. The pilot did not list any mechanical malfunctions in reference to the flight in his accident report. According to the Columbia Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), no notice to airmen (NOTAM) had been issued concerning runway conditions present at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3088J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3088J), registered now, S/N 15061188, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150E - Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 150-6118 - Airframe hours: 7027.7 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James L. Willis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2003, 11 hours before - Departed: K89, Macon, MO - Destination: 7MO, Princeton, MO - Airport: 7MO, Princeton-Kauffman Memorial, runway 36, 2,475 × 100 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 4, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 117 total, 110 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: LWD, 19 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040110035469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040110035469A), Jan 10, 2004: Cessna 150E, Princeton, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed at night at an airport without runway lights. The runway was covered with snow. As the nosewheel plowed through the snow, the steering… 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.