- Date
- August 23, 2023, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Pink Hill, NC
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8474JCessna 150
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot
- 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
- 20230823012149A
- Case key
- 192935
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 pilot’s inadequate compensation for prevailing wind conditions during the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane contacting the ground short of the runway.
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 private pilot and mechanic were performing at flight following the completion of an annual inspection. After takeoff the pilot flew in the airport traffic pattern, departed the area, then elected to return. While on final approach to land, when the airplane was about 30 ft from the runway threshold, the pilot stated that the airplane was struck by a downdraft. He reported briefly hearing the stall warning horn but did not recall if he applied power and stated he likely froze and did not respond. The airplane struck the ground short of the runway in a bean field, collided with a ditch, then nosed over coming to rest inverted on the runway. The vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The pilot reported there was no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8474J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15066374
- Built
- 1967
- Airframe hours
- 5,369
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 14, 2023
- Airport
- NONE · Howard Field, runway 08, 2,800 × 200 ft, grass/turf
- 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
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- July 20, 1993
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 160 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Turbulence
- Unknown
- Observed at
- KDPL, 15 nm away
- METAR
- KDPL 232025Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM CLR 30/12 A3004 RMK AO2
Docket · 9
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 23.4 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.