# NTSB ERA21LA203: Cessna 150, N6915S, Williamson, GA, May 2, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 2, 2021, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Williamson, GA - Coordinates: 33.157684, -84.375627 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1577&lon=-84.3756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103017 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103017/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103017 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA203 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land the airplane with a tailwind, which led to a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he approached the turf runway at his home airport with a tailwind, which he estimated to be about 20 knots and gusting. The airplane “just floated” at the intended touchdown point, and then touched down about 1/3 of the way down the 2,500-ft-long runway. After touchdown, the airplane bounced, and he added some engine power “so that the impact of the second touchdown would be mitigated.” After the second touchdown, he applied “maximum braking effort.” He reported that the braking action was “nil” due to the freshly mowed turf, and he was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. The airplane crossed over a road at the end of the runway, nosed over, came to rest inverted, and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot stated that the opposite runway was not used for landing at this airport, due to tall trees at the approach end, which would have required a touchdown “well past” the midpoint of the runway. Further, the opposite runway had a “radical” downward slope (its elevation decreased about 80 ft over the 2,500-ft length). The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6915S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6915S), registered now, S/N 15067615, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (H) - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067615 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 2432 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2020, 35 hours before - Departed: GA2, Williamson, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 5GA3, Eagles Landing, runway 31, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,550 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: 6A2, 7 nm away - METAR: K6A2 021855Z AUTO 16011G15KT 10SM SCT050 26/13 A2995 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210502007989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210502007989A), May 2, 2021: Cessna 150H, Williamson, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot states that he departed peach state aerodrome, Williamson, GA (GA2) at approximately 1430 on may 2, 2021 for a flight back to Eagles Landing Airport,… ## Other investigations on N6915S (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA69D0176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA69D0176), Dec 2, 1968: Cessna 150 (N6915S), Chemult, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103017. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20form%206120_ERA21LA203_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699797&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20%20MFR%20-%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot_ERA21LA203%20-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA21LA203-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12703387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA21LA203_b-Rel.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.