CHI93LA183

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Flora, IL · May 27, 1993

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 27, 1993, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Flora, IL
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N714ANCessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930527019029A
Case key
9211

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 delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. A factor related to the accident was the lack of total experience in this type operation by the flight instructor.

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.

In flight collision with objectLanding - aborted
Object - utility pole
Lack of total experience in type operationPilot in command(cfi)Factor
Remedial action - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Analysis

The student pilot and flight instructor were praticing takeoffs and landings. The first two landing attempts were high. On the third attempt, the student dove for the runway then raised the nose of the airplane abruptly. The instructor took control and attempted to salvage the landing. Witnesses stated the landing was made 2500 feet down the 4000 foot runway. The instructor then attempted to abort the landing. Witnesses stated the airplane never got higher than 20 feet on the attempted abort. The airplane struck a power pole off the end of the runway. The runway used was 03. The wind was from the southwest at 10-15 knots. The instructor had 3 hours of instructor time.

Factual narrative

On May 27, 1993, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N714AN, sustained substantial damage when it struck a power pole during an aborted landing at the Flora Municipal Airport, Flora, Illinois. The certified flight instructor and the student pilot aboard the airplane both received minor injuries. The local instructional flight originated at the Flora Airport at 1445. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The flight instructor and student were attempting to practice takeoffs and landings on runway 03. Witnesses reported the wind to be from the southwest at 10-15 knots. The instructor stated the student had discontinued two approaches and on the third approach dove for the runway then pulled the nose up. The instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to land. She reported: "We landed on one wheel, out of control on the ground, so my reaction was to add full power, pick up the flaps, and get it back in the air."

Witnesses reported that the airplane landed about 2500 feet down the runway, and that it never climbed any higher than 20 feet on the aborted landing before it struck a power pole off the departure end of the runway.

The flight instructor had accrued 3 hours of instructor time, and reported 233 hours total flight time.

Aircraft

Registration
N714AN
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15079028
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Vic Ackerson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Airport
FOA · Flora Municipal, runway 3, 4,000 × 60 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
21
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
233 total · 2 in this make and model · 125 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 12 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MWA, 62 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.