# NTSB GAA16CA198: Cessna 150, N8052S, Sterling City, TX, April 24, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 24, 2016, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Sterling City, TX
- Coordinates: 31.642778, -100.968612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6428&lon=-100.9686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93064/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93064
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA198

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to establish a climb and maintain directional control during takeoff in quartering tailwind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control, aborted takeoff, collision with a wire fence, and nose over.

## 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)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: 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)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: 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

The pilot reported that during takeoff the wind shifted from a crosswind to a quartering tailwind. He further reported that immediately after rotation at 45 knots, the airplane began to drift to the left and would not climb. Subsequently, the pilot aborted the takeoff and touched down to the left of the runway about 20 feet before a wire fence. The nose wheel caught on the wire fence and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during takeoff the wind shifted from a crosswind to a quartering tailwind. He further reported that immediately after rotation at 45 knots, the airplane began to drift to the left and would not climb. Subsequently, the pilot aborted the takeoff and touched down to the left of the runway about 20 feet before a wire fence. The nose wheel caught on the wire fence and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8052S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8052S-2017-05-18), registration cancelled 2017-05-18, S/N 15061652, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (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: 15061652
- Year built: 1965
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 64F, Sterling City, TX
- Destination: 88R, SPICEWOOD, TX
- Airport: 64F, Alvie Cole Ranch, runway 14, 3,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2016; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,350 total, 150 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: KSJT, 29 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 20160424005549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160424005549A), Apr 24, 2016: Cessna 150F, Sterling City, TX, Substantial damage. On April 24, 2016, at 1308 CDT, N8052S, a Cessna 150 , registered to a private individual, impacted a 3 foot high cable when the aircraft attempted take off…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93064. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%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.

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