GAA16CA453

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150 · Franklin, PA · August 24, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 24, 2016, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Franklin, PA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N8120SCessna 150
Defining event
Landing-aborted after touchdown: Miscellaneous/other
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 5, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20160824015269A
Case key
93909

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control resulting in a hard landing and the flight instructor's delayed action to assist the student pilot during the aborted landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, a right main and nose gear collapse, and fuselage damage.

Findings · 5

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotCessna 150F: 28 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotCessna 150F: 6 casesAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: pitch controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 150F: 5 casesAll aircraft: 526 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 150F: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna 150F: 4 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The student pilot reported that during a gusty crosswind landing the airplane touched down and drifted off the runway to the right. He further reported that he added power to abort the landing, but "with the carburetor heat still on, and the flaps at 30 degrees and the temperature of nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside, we did not regain control." The airplane pitched up and the left wing hit the ground. Subsequently, the airplane was "vaulted" over to the right side of the runway and impacted terrain. which resulted in a collapsed right main and nose gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot flared a little high and he thought the landing would be "just a little hard" and he allowed the student to continue. The flight instructor further reported that during the aborted landing, he attempted to help the student pilot maintain control of the airplane, but "it was too late". The automated weather observing system at the airport about 5 minutes before the accident recorded the wind at 180 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 30. The same automated weather observing system about 15 minutes after the accident recorded the wind at 210 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during a gusty crosswind landing the airplane touched down and drifted off the runway to the right. He further reported that he added power to abort the landing, but "with the carburetor heat still on, and the flaps at 30 degrees and the temperature of nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside, we did not regain control." The airplane pitched up and the left wing hit the ground. Subsequently, the airplane was "vaulted" over to the right side of the runway and impacted terrain. which resulted in a collapsed right main and nose gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot flared a little high and he thought the landing would be "just a little hard" and he allowed the student to continue. The flight instructor further reported that during the aborted landing, he attempted to help the student pilot maintain control of the airplane, but "it was too late". The automated weather observing system at the airport about 5 minutes before the accident recorded the wind at 180 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 30. The same automated weather observing system about 15 minutes after the accident recorded the wind at 210 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N8120S
Reported as
Cessna 150 (F)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15061720
Built
1965
Airframe hours
5,816
Engine
Cont Motor O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 23, 2016
Departed
N27 · Towanda, PA
Destination
FKL · Franklin, PA
Airport
FKL · Venango Rgnl, runway 30, 3,593 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
30 total · 5 in this make and model · 3 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Role
Flight instructor
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 14, 2016
Seat
Right
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
337 total · 10 in this make and model · 265 as pilot in command · 63 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 12 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
KFKL, 1 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N8120S · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.