# NTSB ERA10CA372: Cessna 150M, N45220, Knoxville, TN, July 22, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2010, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.885555, -83.957778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8856&lon=-83.9578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76728
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA372
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76728/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76728
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA372

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, while landing, the airplane “bounced back up into the air.” The student pilot was "trying to ride it out," but when the airplane touched down again, the propeller struck the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane by the student pilot revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions noted prior to the accident, and that the winds were calm.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, while landing, the airplane “bounced back up into the air.” The student pilot was "trying to ride it out," but when the airplane touched down again, the propeller struck the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane by the student pilot revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions noted prior to the accident, and that the winds were calm.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45220](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45220-2013-02-28), registration cancelled 2013-02-28, S/N 15076791, built 1975 (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: 15076791
- Airframe hours: 12000
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: East Tennessee Pilots Club
- Registered owner: East Tennessee Pilots Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2010
- Departed: GCY, Greenville, TN
- Destination: TN98, Knoxville, TN
- Airport: TN98, Sky Ranch Airport, runway 01, 2,100 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 56; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 5, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KTYS, 5 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20100722041009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100722041009A), Jul 22, 2010: Cessna 150M, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed. Pilot returning from first solo cross-country ballooned on landing and impacted on nose of aircraft.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76728. 538 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334875&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record: Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334876&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334877&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.

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