# NTSB ERA10CA124: Cessna 150, N5478Q, Taunton, MA, January 26, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 26, 2010, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Taunton, MA - Coordinates: 41.874443, -71.01667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8744&lon=-71.0167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75311/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75311 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on the 3,500-foot-long runway, which was oriented 300 degrees magnetic. Prior to touchdown, the pilot decided to conduct a touch-and-go landing. The pilot stated that after touchdown he moved the carburetor heat to the "cold" position and applied power to take off. The engine "stumbled and popped," and the pilot aborted the takeoff and "applied hard braking." The airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted snow and ice past the runway edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. A witness stated that he saw the airplane "level off" at "the first one-third point" and continue down the runway "at an altitude of 15 feet and estimated 70 knots." He stated that the airplane touched down "on the last quarter of the runway," and he heard tires "squealing." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident identified no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures. The recorded weather observation around the time of the accident included winds from 230 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 19 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing on the 3,500-foot long runway, which was oriented 300 degrees magnetic. Prior to touchdown, the pilot decided to make "a touch and go landing." The pilot stated that after touchdown, he moved the carburetor heat to the "cold" position and applied power to take off. The engine "stumbled and popped," and the pilot aborted the takeoff and "applied hard braking." The airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted snow and ice past the runway edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall. A witness stated that he saw the airplane "level off" at "the first one-third point" and continue down the runway "at an altitude of 15 feet and estimated 70 knots." He stated that the airplane touched down "on the last quarter of the runway," and he heard tires "squealing." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, identified no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The recorded weather observation around the time of the accident included winds from 230 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5478Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5478Q-2011-03-14), registration cancelled 2011-03-14, S/N 15073378, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (L) - 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: 15073378 - Airframe hours: 3937 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nelson Woodward - Registered owner: Nelson Woodward - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2009 - Departed: TAN, Taunton, MA - Destination: TAN, Taunton, MA - Airport: TAN, Taunton Municipal Airport, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 45 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.53 inHg - Observed at: TAN ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75311. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326467&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Massachusetts%20Aeronautics%20Commission-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo of Skid Marks From Accident Airplane - Courtesy of FAA (item 4, .PDF, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Skid%20Marks%20From%20Accident%20Airplane%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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.