- Date
- February 11, 2018, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Statesville, NC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N23398Cessna 150
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180211006689A
- Case key
- 97124
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 pilot’s failure to maintain crosswind correction during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s and flight instructor’s decision to land with gusting tailwinds.
Findings · 8
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.
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 pilot receiving instruction's attorney reported that the pilot was performing routine pattern work; during landing, the airplane encountered turbulence and wind gusts. He added that, a strong gust of wind blew the right wing up, which pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest partially off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The attorney reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 10.
Factual narrative
The pilot-receiving-instruction's attorney reported that, while performing routine pattern work, during landing, the airplane encountered turbulence and wind gusts. He added that, a strong gust of wind blew the right wing up, which pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest partially off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The attorney reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 10.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23398
- Reported as
- Cessna 150 (H)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15068928
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 6,562
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-200 SERIES, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2017
- Departed
- SVH · Statesville, NC
- Destination
- SVH · Statesville, NC
- Airport
- SVH · Statesville Rgnl, runway 10, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 4, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 248 total · 204 in this make and model · 240 as pilot in command · 10.1 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 8, 2017
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 31,230 total · 565 in this make and model · 30,990 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 3.2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- KSVH
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 25, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 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 N23398 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.