# NTSB ERA13CA051: Cessna 150L, N1791Q, Seneca Falls, NY, October 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 21, 2012, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Seneca Falls, NY - Coordinates: 42.883609, -76.781112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8836&lon=-76.7811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85541/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85541 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA051 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, which resulted in an impact with a drainage ditch. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he did not obtain a preflight weather briefing before the local flight. At the time of departure the wind was from 270 degrees at 9 knots; however, the pilot reported that after being airborne for about 1 hour 15 minutes, the wind velocity at the airport had increased to 17 knots with gusts to 28 knots. When the pilot returned to the departure airport, he decided to land on the grass runway designated 28. He said that he flew a normal traffic pattern, and as he was flaring to land, a wind gust raised the left wing. He immediately applied left aileron and right rudder inputs and leveled the wings, but the airplane drifted to the left. The left main landing gear went into a ditch and the left wingtip was substantially damaged when it contacted the corn crop adjacent to the runway. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane or systems that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he did not obtain any preflight weather briefing for the local flight. At the time of departure the wind was from 270 degrees at 9 knots, and after being airborne for about 1 hour 15 minutes, the wind picked up to 270 degrees at 17 knots with gusts to 28 knots. At that time he elected to return to the departure airport, and selected to land on the grass runway designated 28. He executed a normal traffic pattern, and on final approach with 20 degrees of flaps extended maintained 70 miles-per-hour. About the point he was “rounding out” a wind gust occurred raising the left wing. He immediately applied left aileron and right rudder inputs, and leveled the wings, but at that time the airplane had drifted to the left. The left main landing gear went into a ditch and the left wingtip was substantially damaged when it contacted corn crop adjacent to the runway. He further stated there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction of the airplane or systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1791Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1791Q), registered now, S/N 15073091 (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: 15073091 - Airframe hours: 2112 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Finger Lakes Flying Service - Registered owner: Schartzer James N - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2011 - Departed: 0G7, Seneca Falls, NY - Destination: 0G7, Seneca Falls, NY - Airport: 0G7, Finger Lakes Regional Airport, runway 29, 1,850 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 358 total, 261 in this make and model, 286 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PEO, 19 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 20121021029049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121021029049A), Oct 21, 2012: Cessna 150L, Seneca Falls, NY, Substantial damage. On 10/21/2012 at 11:16 edst a Cessna 150L (N1791Q) owned by james n. schartzer and was being operated by [privacy data omitted] was landing at OG7 when due to… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85541. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382671&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381794&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting the Resting Position of the Airplane. (item 4, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20the%20Resting%20Position%20of%20the%20Airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting the Airplane Following Recovery. Note the Damage to the Aft Spar of the Left Wing. (item 5, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Depicting%20the%20Airplane%20Following%20Recovery.%20Note%20the%20Damage%20to%20the%20Aft%20Spar%20of%20the%20Left%20Wing.-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.