# NTSB ERA21LA271: Cessna 150, N22307, Bentleyville, PA, June 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2021, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Bentleyville, PA - Coordinates: 40.153653, -80.051134 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1537&lon=-80.0511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - 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): 103365 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103365/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103365 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA271 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22307), registered now, S/N 15068207, built 1968 (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: 15068207 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 2737 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; 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 - Flight instructor; injuries: serious; 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 ## 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 20210628011089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210628011089A), Jun 28, 2021: Cessna 150H, Bentleyville, PA, Substantial damage. During takeoff on dry, tall grass runway with high temperature, aircraft stalled in climb and struck ground. Aircraft sustained substantial damage. Both pilots… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103365. 11.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12523762&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA271%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor and student pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12524308&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20and%20Instructor%20Interview%20Summary%20for%20Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Takeoff performance calculations (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12549754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Take%20off%20calculation%20150H%20(002)-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12533797&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA271-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.