- Date
- January 15, 2015, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stow, MA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5443QCessna 150L
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 10, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20150115000302A
- Case key
- 90603
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 flight instructor's delayed remedial action in response to the student pilot's improper go-around, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack, experiencing an aerodynamic stall, and impacting a parked airplane.
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 flight instructor (CFI) stated that the student pilot flared the airplane too high while on approach for landing, and he instructed her to conduct a go-around. The student responded by applying engine power, but did not lower the airplane's nose. The CFI assumed control of the airplane "too late," and the airplane subsequently stalled and impacted an unoccupied airplane parked near the runway, resulting in substantial damage. The CFI reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor (CFI) stated that the student pilot flared the airplane too high while on approach for landing, and he instructed her to conduct a go-around. The student responded by applying engine power, but did not lower the airplane's nose. The CFI assumed control of the airplane "too late," and the airplane subsequently stalled and impacted an unoccupied airplane parked near the runway, resulting in substantial damage. The CFI reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5443Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L (M)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15073343
- Built
- 1972
- Airframe hours
- 8,776.8
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Aptis Aviation LLC
- Registered owner
- Aptis Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2014
- Departed
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Destination
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Airport
- 6B6 · Minuteman Airfield, runway 3, 2,770 × 48 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 13 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 8.5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 29, 2014
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 160 in this make and model · 2,800 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 32 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- KFIT, 12 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 16.2 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.