# NTSB ERA13LA095: Cessna 150J, N50757, Indian Trail, NC, December 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 20, 2012, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Indian Trail, NC - Coordinates: 35.119167, -80.585556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1192&lon=-80.5856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85866 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85866/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85866 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA095 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate glidepath and airspeed control during short final approach and the airplane’s improper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while returning to his home base airport, the airplane had an electrical power failure, and, subsequently, the flaps would not fully extend. The airplane was high and fast on short final approach, and it touched down about 300 to 400 feet from the departure end of the runway. The flight instructor was unable to stop the airplane, and it overran the runway, went down an embankment, and collided with trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of an electrical power failure. The battery was checked with a battery meter, and the battery held a charge. Control continuity was established for all of the flight controls. The flaps were operated with battery power only, and full up and down travel was achieved. An examination of the brakes revealed that they operated normally. No other anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 20, 2012, about 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N50757, was substantially damaged following a runway overrun at Goose Creek Airport (28A), Indian Trail, North Carolina. The flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bamert Aviation LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from 28A at 1400. According to the flight instructor, he was on an instructional flight with a student pilot and was returning to the home base airport. He went on to say that during the approach to land, the airplane had an electrical power failure. Due to the electrical failure, he was unable to fully extend the flaps and entered the traffic pattern with approximately 8 degrees of flaps deployed. He said that the airplane was high and fast on short final, and the airplane touched down approximately 300-400 feet from the departure end of the runway. He applied the brakes and was unable to stop the airplane. The airplane overran the runway, went down an embankment and collided with trees. The student pilot was 13 years of age, and his statement was consistent with the flight instructor's actions. A pilot rated witness observed the event and stated that the pilot was high and fast on approach, but did not attempt to conduct a go around. The pilot nosed the airplane down approximately 400 feet from the departure end of the runway, porpoised, and was unable to stop the airplane before overrunning the runway. A post-accident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right wings were buckled. Further examination revealed no evidence of an electrical power failure. The battery was checked with a battery meter and the battery held a charge. All flight controls displayed continuity to all flight control surfaces. The flaps were operated with battery power only and full travel was achieved up and down. An inspection of the brakes revealed that the brakes applied and released normally. No other anomalies were noted with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50757](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50757-2018-02-14), registration cancelled 2018-02-14, S/N 15069531, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069531 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4145 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bamert Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Bamert Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2012, 134 hours before - Departed: EQY, Monroe, NC - Destination: 28A, Indian Trail, NC - Airport: 28A, Goose Creek Airport, runway 04, 2,350 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 342 total, 7 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 10 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: EQY, 6 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 20121220027309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121220027309A), Dec 20, 2012: Cessna 150J, Indian Trail, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot (CFI) thought he had an electrical failure. He stated the flaps would not go down. A witness stated the aircraft was high and fast with 10-20 degrees… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85866. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 732 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector’s Statement (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student pilot statement (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20pilot%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – View of left wing leading edge damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20left%20wing%20leading%20edge%20damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – View of right wing leading edge damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20right%20wing%20leading%20edge%20damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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.