# NTSB GAA15CA077: Cessna 150M, N8634U, Wellington, KS, May 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2015, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Wellington, KS - Coordinates: 37.328887, -97.388336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3289&lon=-97.3883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91194/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91194 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA077 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and loss of control which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 5,010 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that about 6 inches off the ground he initiated a go-around and the airplane yawed to the left. He stated that he landed nose wheel first "hard" off the runway, the airplane slide forward and the airplane's nose wheel impacted the edge of the concrete taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that about 6 inches off the ground he initiated a go-around and the airplane yawed to the left. He stated that he landed nose wheel first "hard" off the runway, the airplane slid forward and the airplane's nose wheel impacted the edge of the concrete taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8634U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8634U-2016-12-22), registration cancelled 2016-12-22, S/N 15077964, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15077964 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5880 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Steve Hurst - Registered owner: Long Earl V III DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2015 - Departed: 71K, WICHITA, KS - Destination: EGT, Wellington, KS - Airport: EGT, Wellington Muni, runway 17, 4,201 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KIAB, 18 nm away ## 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 20150517007449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150517007449A), May 17, 2015: Cessna 150M, Wellington, KS, Substantial damage. The appropriately endorsed student pilot was on his second supervised solo flight, making his second solo landing on this day. During the landing flare the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91194. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.