# NTSB ERA24LA182: Cessna 150L, N150RZ, Sussex, NJ, April 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 16, 2024, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Sussex, NJ · Off to side of runway 3 - Coordinates: 41.200214, -74.623035 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2002&lon=-74.6230&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 194103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194103/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194103 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA182 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around attempt in a gusting left crosswind, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); 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) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was performing a solo, cross-country flight. As he approached his destination airport, he checked the weather and reported that there were “no winds.” He set up for an approach to runway 3 since another airplane in the traffic pattern had completed an approach to the same runway. He flew the final approach at 70 mph. As he crossed the runway threshold, the airplane was about 5 feet to the right of centerline. He attempted to correct with left rudder; however, the airplane continued to drift to the right. He was no longer over the runway surface, so he elected to perform a go-around. He added full throttle and pushed on the yoke. The stall warning horn immediately activated, the airplane lost all lift, rotated to the left, and collided with the ground. The left wing hit the ground first, followed by the nose. The pilot egressed the airplane with minor injuries. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration reported substantial damage to both wings and the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport surveillance video captured the event and was consistent with the pilot’s account. Although the pilot reported calm wind, recorded weather at the airport before and immediately after the accident indicated a gusting left crosswind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150RZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N150RZ), registered now, S/N 15074929, 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: 15074929 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 4158 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2023, 79 hours before - Departed: POU, Poughkeepsie, NY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FWN, Sussex Airport, runway 3, 3,506 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 585; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 106 total, 18 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KFWN - METAR: METAR KFWN 161553Z AUTO 31008G19KT 10SM CLR 17/M01 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP211 T01721006 ## 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 20240416003069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240416003069A), Apr 16, 2024: Cessna 150L, Sussex, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft was executing a go around at kfwn runway 3, stalled and crashed impacting in grass on east side of runway at approximately midfield point. Recorded… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194103. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 899 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17174255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17174603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Recount%20of%20Events%204.16.2024%20Sussex_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - conversation with FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17174707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2a%20NTSB%20MOR%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record -weather data fwn (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17174284&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2b%20NTSB%20MOR%20FWN%20Weather-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17174613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Airport surveillance camera video (item 6, MOV, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17174294&FileExtension=mov&FileName=4%20Airport%20Surveillance%20Video-Rel.mov 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.