- Date
- March 9, 2007, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- LaCrosse, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7272SCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070309006229A
- Case key
- 65498
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 dual student's failure to maintain the proper glidepath and clearance from terrain and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. A factor was the flight instructor's fatigue.
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.
Analysis
The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a snowbank during final approach to landing. The certified flight instructor stated that the accident landing approach was normal until the airplane was on about 1/2 mile final where the student pilot extended the flaps to 40 degrees. The instructor stated that he then "fell asleep for 20 to 25 seconds." He stated that he opened his eyes just prior to the wheels hitting the snowbank. He stated that he did not have enough time to react to prevent the impact. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop. The flight instructor stated that his inability to remain awake was due to a lack of sleep the night before.
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a snowbank during final approach to landing. The certified flight instructor stated that the accident landing approach was normal until the airplane was on about 1/2 mile final where the student pilot extended the flaps to 40 degrees. The instructor stated that he then "fell asleep for 20 to 25 seconds." He stated that he opened his eyes just prior to the wheels hitting the snowbank. He stated that he did not have enough time to react to prevent the impact. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop. The flight instructor stated that his inability to remain awake was due to a lack of sleep the night before.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7272S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15067972
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Colgan Air Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LSE · LaCrosse, WI
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2006
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 16,100 total · 8,500 in this make and model · 14,700 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 24
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.