# NTSB GAA15CA146: Cessna 150L, N19337, Huntsville, AL, June 28, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2015, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Huntsville, AL
- Coordinates: 34.859443, -86.557502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8594&lon=-86.5575&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Alabama/Northwest Florida FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91462/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91462
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA146

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing touchdown, resulting in a porpoise, and firewall damage.

## 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 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing touchdown, the airplane porpoised, the nose landing gear collapsed, and came to a stop on the nose. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing touchdown, the airplane porpoised, the nose landing gear collapsed, and came to a stop on the nose. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19337](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19337-2016-01-05), registration cancelled 2016-01-05, S/N 15074350, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L (M)
- 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: 15074350
- Year built: 1973
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Quest LLC
- Registered owner: Aero Quest LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: OLV, OLIVE BRANCH, MS
- Destination: MDQ, Huntsville, AL
- Airport: MDQ, Huntsville Executive Airport T, runway 36, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 197 total, 23.2 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KMDQ

## 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 20150628012299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150628012299A), Jun 28, 2015: Cessna 150L, Meridianville, AL, Substantial damage. After loss of control and multiple ground contacts on runway 36, the aircraft sustained damage to nose landing gear, firewall, propeller, and engine. As a…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91462. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.

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