# NTSB FTW87LA140: Cessna 150G, N8612J, College Station, TX, June 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 6, 1987, 12:33 local (17:33 UTC)
- Place: College Station, TX
- Location: 30.5880° N, 96.3625° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at EASTERWOOD FLD (CLL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5880&lon=-96.3625&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22378/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA140

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - vibration (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE PANEL OR CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. DURING LANDING ROLL IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR WHEELS DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED INTO AN INVERTED POSITION AND STOPPED. THE PILOT STATED THAT BEFORE STARTING OUT ON THIS FLIGHT (HIS FIRST SOLO CROSS COUNTRY) HE MADE FOUR TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AND CONFERRED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES WITH THE OWNER-MECHANIC OF THE AIRCRAFT ABOUT A NOSE GEAR VIBRATION. IT WAS REPORTED THAT NEW BUSHINGS HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY ABOUT 50 OPERATIONAL HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE REASON FOR THE SHIMMY/VIBRATION OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8612J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8612J-2022-04-02), registration cancelled 2022-04-02, S/N 15066512 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G
- Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15066512
- Airframe hours: 3463
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles T.Whelan
- Registered owner: Charles T Whelan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 4, 1987, 21 hours before
- Departed: 62H, GIDDINGS, TX
- Destination: CLL, COLLEGE STATION, TX
- Airport: CLL, Easterwood, runway 10, 5,160 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 31 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19870606075709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870606075709A), Jun 6, 1987: Cessna 150G, College Station, TX, Substantial damage. Vibration at nose wheel touchdown. Lost directional control. Ran off runway and nosed over in soft soil.

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.