# NTSB GAA15CA104: Cessna 150F, N8126S, Harlingen, TX, May 30, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2015, 15:07 local (20:07 UTC) - Place: Harlingen, TX - Coordinates: 26.224166, -97.656944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2242&lon=-97.6569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: San Antonio FSDO FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA104 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## 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 150F, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was practicing touch and go landings on his fifth solo flight. Two landings were completed on a runway with a direct headwind, but on the third landing air traffic control instructed him to land on an adjacent runway with a crosswind. The student pilot reported that he touched down with an appropriate crosswind technique, but during the landing roll the airplane began swerving to the left and he lost directional control. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed on the runway and the airplane came to rest upright on its nose and right wing. The reported winds at the airport about the time of the accident were from 110 degrees true at 16 knots, and the runway heading was 170 degrees. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was practicing touch and go landings on his fifth solo flight. Two landings were completed on a runway with a direct headwind, but on the third landing air traffic control instructed him to land on an adjacent runway with a crosswind. The student pilot reported that he touched down with an appropriate crosswind technique, but during the landing roll the airplane began swerving to the left and he lost directional control. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed on the runway and the airplane came to rest upright on its nose and right wing. The reported winds at the airport about the time of the accident were from 110 degrees true at 16 knots, and the runway heading was 170 degrees. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8126S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8126S), registered now, S/N 15061726, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061726 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3720 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 2015 - Departed: HRL, Harlingen, TX - Destination: HRL, Harlingen, TX - Airport: HRL, Valley Intl, runway 17L, 5,949 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 31 total, 30 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KHRL ## 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 20150530007619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150530007619A), May 30, 2015: Cessna 150F, Harlingen, TX, Substantial damage. On may 30, 2015, at 15:20 hours, a Cessna 150F, N8126S owned by mid valley flying , crashed on runway 17L at khrl. VFR flight conditions prevailed and the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91297. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Right Wing (Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Cowling (Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Cowling%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.