ERA21LA271

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150 · Bentleyville, PA · June 28, 2021

Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
June 28, 2021, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
Bentleyville, PA
Injuries
2 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N22307Cessna 150
Defining event
Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
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
FAA report
20210628011089A
Case key
103365

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 and student pilot’s inadequate preflight performance planning which resulted in a takeoff attempt with insufficient available runway, a loss of control, and impact with terrain.

Findings · 3

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.

Aircraft capability: takeoff distanceAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededCessna 150H: 1 caseAll aircraft: 67 casesProbable cause
Planning/preparation: performance calculationsPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotCessna 150H: 1 caseAll aircraft: 114 casesProbable cause
Planning/preparation: performance calculationsPersonnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilotCessna 150H: 1 caseAll aircraft: 114 casesProbable cause

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 student pilot and instructor were preparing for the student’s private pilot checkride. After performing takeoffs, landings, and several maneuvers, they decided to perform a landing at a 1,720 ft private grass strip. The landing was uneventful, and the student pilot taxied back and prepared to take off with 10° of flaps. During the takeoff, after the airplane became airborne, and the last recollection the student pilot had was that the airplane was not climbing due to “low airspeed in [the] high heat [and] high humidity.” Subsequently, the airplane impacted the runway about 100 ft from trees at the departure end, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The student pilot reported that they did not complete performance calculations prior to the takeoff. Takeoff performance calculations based on the takeoff distance chart in the airplane owner’s manual revealed that a ground roll of about 1,022 ft and a takeoff distance of about 1,792 ft was required to clear a 50-ft obstacle at the airplane’s maximum allowable gross weight. The chart (and the checklist procedure) indicated that the maximum performance takeoff was to be performed with the flaps in the retracted position. In addition, the student pilot and the flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane during the takeoff.

Aircraft

Registration
N22307
Reported as
Cessna 150 (H)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15068207
Built
1968
Airframe hours
2,737
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2021
Destination
WAY · Waynesburg, PA
Airport
N/A · Private, runway 28, 1,720 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, 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
29
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
107 total · 107 in this make and model · 40 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Flight instructor
Injuries
Serious
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Unknown
Seat
Right

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.22 inHg
Observed at
AFJ, 13 nm away
METAR
METAR KAFJ 282256Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 31/20 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP225 T03110200

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 11.8 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.