- Date
- November 30, 2013, 13:19 local (18:19 UTC)
- Place
- Portland, ME
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4478UCessna 150D
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20131130024149A
- Case key
- 88517
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The purpose of the flight was to fly to an airport located about 32 miles north-northeast of the departure airport. The automated terminal information service (ATIS) information "Zulu" in effect at the time of departure indicated in part that the wind was variable at 4 knots, and landing and departing runway was 11. Shortly after departure using runway 11, he elected to return. While on the downwind leg for runway 11, he was advised by the controller that runway 18 was available and was given the wind from 140 degrees at 8 knots. He agreed to runway 18, and was cleared to land on that runway. On final approach in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he maintained a left wing low attitude to compensate for the crosswind, 20 degrees of flaps extended, and 60 miles-per-hour. During the flare when the airplane was three feet above ground level, the left wing lifted abruptly and he applied left aileron but the airplane yawed to the left. The right wing contacted the runway, and the airplane bounced but was facing the opposite direction. He secured the airplane, did a walk around inspection, and then taxied to the ramp. He further stated there was no mechanical failure of malfunction. A surface weather observation at the accident airport at 1334, or about 4 minutes after the accident indicates the wind was from 070 degrees at 6 knots; no gusts were reported.
Factual narrative
The purpose of the flight was to fly to an airport located about 32 miles north-northeast of the departure airport. The automated terminal information service (ATIS) information "Zulu" in effect at the time of departure indicated in part that the wind was variable at 4 knots, and landing and departing runway was 11. Shortly after departure using runway 11, he elected to return. While on the downwind leg for runway 11, he was advised by the controller that runway 18 was available and was given the wind from 140 degrees at 8 knots. He agreed to runway 18, and was cleared to land on that runway. On final approach in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he maintained a left wing low attitude to compensate for the crosswind, 20 degrees of flaps extended, and 60 miles-per-hour. During the flare when the airplane was three feet above ground level, the left wing lifted abruptly and he applied left aileron but the airplane yawed to the left. The right wing contacted the runway, and the airplane bounced but was facing the opposite direction. He secured the airplane, did a walk around inspection, and then taxied to the ramp. He further stated there was no mechanical failure of malfunction.A surface weather observation at the accident airport at 1334, or about 4 minutes after the accident indicates the wind was from 070 degrees at 6 knots; no gusts were reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4478U
- Reported as
- Cessna 150D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15060478
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 5,154
- Engine
- Continental Motors 0-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Andrews Willard R
- Registered owner
- Andrews Willard R
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 9, 2013 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- PWM · Portland, ME
- Destination
- PWM · Portland, ME
- Airport
- PWM · Portland International Jetport, runway 18, 6,100 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 106 total · 106 in this make and model · 60 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.68 inHg
- Icing
- Unknown
- Turbulence
- Unknown
- Observed at
- PWM
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.