# NTSB CHI97LA296: Cessna 150M, N66547, Salem, IL, September 13, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1997, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Salem, IL
- Coordinates: 38.619728, -88.950057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6197&lon=-88.9501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA296

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that before landing, the approach was normal. While over the approach end of the runway, he leveled off the airplane to bleed off airspeed, then the airplane 'stalled and dropped in quite hard.'  The airplane bounced and came down at an angle to the runway, then the nose wheel folded under the airframe, damaging the firewall. The airplane then slid to a stop. Later, the pilot said that he was momentarily distracted, and the airplane started to drift, causing his attention to be diverted away from the airspeed.

## Factual narrative

On September 13, 1997 at 1500 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150M, N66547, registered to Salem Flying Club, Inc., of Salem, Illinois, was substantially damaged when the airplane impacted the terrain following a hard landing at Salem Airport, Salem, Illinois.  The instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was on file.  The student pilot reported no injuries.  The solo flight departed Salem, Illinois at 1445 cdt.

In a written report, the pilot said that the initial landing sequence was normal.  While over the approach end of the runway, he leveled off the airplane to bleed off airspeed, at which time the airplane "stalled and dropped in quite hard."  The airplane bounced and came down at an angle to the runway, at which time the nose wheel folded under the airframe, damaging the firewall.  The airplane then slid to a stop.  In a telephone conversation, the pilot said that he was momentarily distracted when over the runway the airplane started to drift, causing his attention to be diverted away from the airspeed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66547](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66547-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 15076114, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2071830
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Salem Flying Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1997, 98 hours before
- Departed: SLO
- Destination: SLO
- Airport: SLO, Salem-Leckrone, runway 18, 4,098 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 34 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19970913027719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970913027719A), Sep 13, 1997: Cessna 150M, Salem, IL, Substantial damage. Impacted terrain after hard landing. (-23) during the landing at the Salem, Illinois airport, N66547 contacted the runway in a nose down attitude, subsequently…

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.

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