# NTSB DEN86LA084: Cessna 150L, N16210, Watford City, ND, February 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1986, 18:00 local (Feb 27, 1986, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Watford City, ND
- Coordinates: 47.799064, -103.269317 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7991&lon=-103.2693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16924
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16924/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA084

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING ON RWY 30 AT WATFORD CITY MUNI ARPT, ND, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE STUDENT PLT SAID THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE THIRD TOUCH-AND-GO. THE PLT SAID HE USED ONLY 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS. HE NOTED SOME TURBULENCE AND AN INCREASE IN HEADWIND. THE PLT SAID THAT AFTER HE CROSSED THE RWY, HE CUT THE POWER AND FLARED, KEEPING HIS EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE PLT SAID HE FLARED TOO SOON, THE ACFT STRUCK THE RWY AND BOUNCED. THE PLT DID NOT ADD POWER. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SKIDDED TO A HALT ON THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16210](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16210), registered now, S/N 15073546, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 150-16210
- Airframe hours: 5331
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kent Steven Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 1985, 59 hours before
- Airport: S25, Watford City Muni, runway 30, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19860226007279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860226007279A), Feb 26, 1986: Cessna 150L, Watford City, ND, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing in gusty wind, then hit hard on nose gear. Bent nose gear, damaged the propeller and cowling.

## Other investigations on N16210 (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC77DCJ07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77DCJ07), Dec 29, 1976: Cessna 150 (N16210), Omaha, NE, substantial damage

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.
