- Date
- May 21, 2018, 19:20 local (May 22, 2018, 00:20 UTC)
- Place
- Bemidgi, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5999TCessna 150
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180521024459A
- Case key
- 97310
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 lateral control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a side load and subsequent failure of the left main landing gear extension casting.
Findings · 2
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 student pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a right crosswind gust, and the right wing lifted. He added that "the airplane sidestepped to the left and the left main landing gear wheel assembly separated, and the left-wing tip struck the ground." The left main landing gear strut contacted the runway surface, and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 180° at 6 knots. The student landed the airplane on runway 13. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Photographs taken by the pilot during a postaccident examination revealed that an extension casting, which was part of the tailwheel conversion kit, failed where the two lower landing gear strut attachment bolts connect to the extension casting.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a right crosswind gust, and the right wing lifted. "The airplane sidestepped to the left and the left main landing gear wheel assembly separated, and the left-wing tip struck the ground." The left main landing gear strut contacted the runway surface and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. According to the METAR at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, the wind was reported as being from 180° at 6 knots. The pilot landed to runway 13. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Photographs taken by the pilot during a post-accident examination revealed that an extension casting, that was part of the tailwheel conversion kit, failed where the two lower landing gear strut attachment bolts connect to the extension casting.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5999T
- Reported as
- Cessna 150 (D)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15060699
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 3,461
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Bemidji Flying Club Inc.
- Registered owner
- Bemidji Flying Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 27, 2017
- Departed
- BJI · Bemidgi, MN
- Destination
- BJI · Bemidgi, MN
- Airport
- BJI · Bemidji Rgnl, runway 13, 7,004 × 150 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 70 total · 67 in this make and model · 18 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KBJI, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.9 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 N5999T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.