# NTSB FTW98LA147: Cessna 150L, N21915, Conway, AR, March 13, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 1998, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Conway, AR - Coordinates: 35.069122, -92.35958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0691&lon=-92.3596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20553/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and her improper recovery procedures for a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During the student pilot's first solo landing attempt, the aircraft touched down 'hard' on runway 18, bounced and impacted the runway with the nose landing gear, folding it aft. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, resting on its main landing gear and engine cowling. The student pilot reported that 'everything seemed to appear good on approach until I felt a shift of wind veer me off the glide path. I felt I had enough altitude to salvage the landing, but evidently I did not.' The student reported that the wind was from the south at 10 knots. The student's flight instructor reported that the aircraft appeared to be stabilized on final approach, and the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at about 50 feet agl. As the aircraft crossed the threshold its wing dipped right and then left. The aircraft rounded out at about 6 feet in a level attitude, and then lost altitude quickly and touched down in a three point landing. The aircraft bounced back into the air, the nose dropped and struck the runway with the nose gear. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1998, at 1000 central standard time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N21915, owned and operated by a private owner doing business as Conway Flight Training, was substantially damaged during a landing at the Dennis F. Cantrell Field Airport near Conway, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local supervised solo instructional flight. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The 31 hour student pilot reported that this was her first supervised solo flight. During her first landing attempt, "everything seemed to appear good on approach until I felt a shift of wind veer me off the glide path. I felt I had enough altitude to salvage the landing, but evidently I did not." The aircraft touched down "hard" on runway 18, bounced and impacted the runway with the nose landing gear, folding it aft. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, resting on its main landing gear and engine cowling. The student further reported that the wind was from the south at 10 knots. The student's flight instructor reported that the aircraft appeared to be stabilized on final approach, and the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at about 50 feet agl. As the aircraft crossed the threshold its wing dipped right and then left. The aircraft rounded out at about 6 feet in a level attitude, and then lost altitude quickly and touched down in a three point attitude. The aircraft bounced back into the air, the nose dropped and struck the runway with the nose gear, folding it aft. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose landing gear was separated, both propeller blade tips were bent aft, and the bottom of the firewall was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21915](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21915-2018-01-12), registration cancelled 2018-01-12, S/N 15074532, built 1973 (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: 15074532 - Airframe hours: 5080 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David A. Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 1997, 79 hours before - Departed: M03 - Airport: M03, Dennis F. Cantrell Field, runway 18, 3,278 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 19980313047169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980313047169A), Mar 13, 1998: Cessna 150L, Conway, AR, No damage. (-23) During first landing attempt on first supervised solo, student pilot made a hard touchdown, bounced and then impacted the runway on the nose gear,… ## Other investigations on N21915 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI03LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA323), Sep 28, 2003: Cessna 150L (N21915), Siloam Springs, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion. Factors were the trees and the night conditions. 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.