# NTSB FTW99LA202: Cessna A150M, N2721J, Alvin, TX, July 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1999, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Alvin, TX - Coordinates: 29.429416, -95.240173 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4294&lon=-95.2402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA202 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's excessive rotation while performing a soft field takeoff, which resulted in a delayed lift-off and the ensuing failure to attain obstacle clearance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - rotation - excessive, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - lift-off - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) - object - sign - altitude/clearance - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis During a dual instructional flight, the airplane struck a stop sign on takeoff initial climb and then impacted terrain. The flight instructor reported that the student initiated the takeoff from the 1,500-foot grass runway. 'About halfway down the runway,' the instructor 'realized it would be real close, if [they] made it.' He assumed control of the airplane and held 'the yoke back to do a soft field takeoff.' The instructor stated that he thought he 'pulled the nose up too far and dragged the tail.' After becoming airborne, the airplane collided with a stop sign located off the airport property. Subsequently, the airplane impacted in a field, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down in a barbed wire fence. The flight instructor had accumulated 827 total flight hours and had given 94 hours of flight instruction of which 45 hours were in a Cessna 150. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1999, at 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna A150M airplane, N2721J, was substantially damaged when it struck a stop sign and terrain during the takeoff initial climb from Alvin Airpark in Alvin, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot aboard the airplane were not injured. The airplane was owned by De Aviation, Inc., of La Porte, Texas, and operated by Harvey and Rihn Aviation of La Porte. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. When the accident occurred, the airplane was departing Alvin Airpark en route to the La Porte Municipal Airport in La Porte, Texas. The flight instructor reported that the student was performing the takeoff with a flap setting of 10 degrees from the 1,500-foot grass runway. "About halfway down the runway," the instructor "realized it would be real close, if [they] made it." He assumed control of the airplane and held "the yoke back to do a soft field takeoff." The instructor stated that he thought he "pulled the nose up too far and dragged the tail." After becoming airborne, the airplane collided with a stop sign located off the airport property. Subsequently, the airplane impacted in a field, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest nose down in a barbed wire fence. The flight instructor reported that he had accumulated a total of 827 flight hours. He further reported that he had given a total of 94 hours of flight instruction of which 45 hours were in a Cessna 150. No information was provided on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) completed by the instructor regarding the flight experience of the student pilot. The student pilot did not respond to a letter from the NTSB investigator-in-charge requesting a written statement describing the accident. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, the left and right wing leading edges were dented, the firewall was wrinkled, and the left wing spar was damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2721J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2721J), registered now, S/N A1500569, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A150M - Registry model: [Cessna A150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150m) (registry code 2071831) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A1500569 - Airframe hours: 5383 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Harvey And Rihn Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: De Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1999, 42 hours before - Departed: 6R5 - Destination: T41, LA PORTE, TX - Airport: 6R5, Alvin Airpark, runway 24, 1,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 827 total, 167 in this make and model, 678 as pilot in command, 112 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19990727009949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990727009949A), Jul 27, 1999: Cessna A150M, Alvin, TX, Substantial damage. After takeof from Alvin airpark, acft hit stop sign and crashed approx 200 yards sw of rwy 21. (.19) on July 27, 1999, at 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna… 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.