# NTSB ERA21LA381: Cessna 150L, N65987, Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 3, 2021, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.198176, -80.172175 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1982&lon=-80.1722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 103973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA381 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s loss of airplane control during an attempted go around maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that on the eighth traffic pattern approach, the student pilot maintained a stabilized approach on the centerline and on short final. At 50 ft above the ground, the flight instructor told the student pilot to reduce engine power. Then, he instructed the student to “flare now,” but the student continued the approach in a nose down attitude. As the flight instructor began to take control of the airplane, it impacted the runway “hard” with the main landing gear and bounced. The flight instructor added power in an attempted go around maneuver, however, the airplane “began to stall.” The airplane descended, the right wing struck the runway marker, the nose struck the ground, and resulted in the airplane coming to rest inverted. The rudder and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65987](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65987-2023-04-22), registration cancelled 2023-04-22, S/N 15075761, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15075761 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 5002 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 2, 2021 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Exec, runway 27, 6,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2021; seat: right; flight hours: 400 total, 3 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 95 total, 1.6 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 1.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: FXE - METAR: KFXE 032153Z 25004KT 10SM SCT030 28/22 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP135 T02830217 ## 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 20210903015259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210903015259A), Sep 3, 2021: Cessna 150L, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. On September 3, 2021, at approximately 1748 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150L, N65987, [privacy data omitted], on a 14 CFR 91 training flight, attempted to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103973. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12793575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA381%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12793478&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12852424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA381-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.