CHI95LA173

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · St. Charles, MO · June 7, 1995

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 7, 1995, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
Place
St. Charles, MO
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6605GCessna 150L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 16, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950607049239A
Case key
9905

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 student pilot's inadvertent interference with flight controls which resulted in a stall. A factor associated with the accident was the student's excessive use of the elevator control.

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)
Elevator - excessiveDual studentFactor
Remedial action - attemptedPilot in command(cfi)
Control interference - inadvertentDual studentCause
StallCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The CFI stated the student pilot applied full aft elevator control during final approach at an altitude of about 10 feet AGL. The CFI attempted to push the elevator control forward, but the student froze on the controls. The CFI stated he attempted a 'stall recovery/go-around.' A witness stated the airplane rolled to the right and made a 180 degree turn prior to impacting the ground.

Factual narrative

On June 7, 1995, at 1205 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6605G, flown by a certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot, collided with the terrain during a go-around at the St. Charles County-Smartt Airport, during an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot both received minor injuries. The local flight originated from the St. Charles County-Smartt Airport approximately 40 minutes prior to the accident.

The CFI stated during an interview that they were practicing stop and go landings on runway 36 when the accident occurred. He stated that while on final approach, at an altitude of about 10 feet above the ground (agl), the student pulled off the power and pulled the control yoke full aft. He stated this resulted in the airplane climbing to an altitude of about 30 feet (agl). He stated he attempted to push the yoke forward, but the student froze holding full back pressure on the control yoke. The CFI reported he attempted a "stall recovery/go-around."

According to a witness, the airplane rolled to the right and made a 180 degree turn prior to descending nose low into the terrain.

The student pilot stated the landing was too high and that the CFI took over control of the airplane adding full power and reducing carburetor heat. He stated he may have pulled the yoke back too far during the landing, but he did not remember freezing on the controls.

Aircraft

Registration
N6605G
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15072105
Airframe hours
2,691
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Skylink Aviation
Registered owner
H & R Rental Corp.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · April 1, 1995 · 24 hours before
Departed
3SZ
Destination
3SZ
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
3SZ · Smartt Field, runway 36, 3,800 × 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
25
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
425 total · 95 in this make and model · 372 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
STL, 11 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.