# NTSB GAA18CA300: Cessna 150, N7750F, Killeen, TX, May 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2018, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Killeen, TX - Coordinates: 31.084167, -97.687225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0842&lon=-97.6872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97324 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97324/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97324 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a maximum performance takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Also causal was the pilot’s failure to use the appropriate flap setting in accordance with the manufacturer’s Maximum Performance Takeoff checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Flight control system: tE flap control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022750/cases.md) - [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) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [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) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a max performance takeoff, he set the flaps to 10° and accelerated to 60 mph. He pulled back and pitched the airplane for Vx (best angle climb), 52 mph, to simulate an obstacle, and then pitched for Vy (best rate climb), 72 mph, where he observed that the airplane was descending. He pitched back to gain altitude but immediately heard the stall warning horn and felt a lack of responsiveness in the flight controls. He leveled the airplane to touch down on the remaining runway, but the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the cause of the accident was that the published Vx airspeed was below the stall speed. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation but that it was possible that the engine was not performing at optimal performance. The airplane owner's manual checklist titled "Maximum Performance Take-Off" stated: 1. Wing Flaps – Up. 2. Carburetor Heat – Cold. 3. Brakes – Hold. 4. Throttle – Full "OPEN." 5. Brakes – Release. 6. Elevator Control – Slightly tail low. 7. Climb Speed – 52 MPH (with obstacles head). The manual also stated: Normal and obstacle clearance take-offs are performed with flaps up. The use of 10° flaps will shorten the ground run approximately 10%, but this advantage is lost in the climb to a 50-foot obstacle. Therefore, the use of 10° flap is reserved for minimum ground runs or for take-off from soft or rough fields with no obstacles ahead. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during a max performance takeoff, he set the flaps to 10° and accelerated to 60 mph. He pulled back and pitched the airplane for Vx (best angle climb), 52 mph, to simulate an obstacle, then pitched for Vy (best rate climb), 72 mph, where he observed a rate of descent. He pitched back to gain altitude, but immediately heard the stall warning horn and felt a lack of responsiveness in the flight controls. He leveled the airplane to touch down on the remaining runway, but the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the cause of the accident was that the published Vx airspeed is below the stall speed. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, but that it was possible that the engine was not performing at optimal performance. The airplane owner's manual checklist titled "Maximum Performance Take-Off" states: 1. Wing Flaps – Up. 2. Carburetor Heat – Cold. 3. Brakes – Hold. 4. Throttle – Full "OPEN". 5. Brakes – Release. 6. Elevator Control – Slightly tail low. 7. Climb Speed – 52 MPH (with obstacles head). The manual also states: "Normal and obstacle clearance take-offs are performed with flaps up. The use of 10° flaps will shorten the ground run approximately 10%, but this advantage is lost in the climb to a 50-foot obstacle. Therefore the use of 10° flap is reserved for minimum ground runs or for take-off from soft or rough fields with no obstacles ahead." The manual also states that the stall speed, with 0° angle of bank, is as follows: Flaps Up – 55 mph Flaps 20° - 49 mph Flaps 40° - 48 mph ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7750F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7750F-2020-03-20), registration cancelled 2020-03-20, S/N 15063850, built 1966 (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: 15063850 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2018 - Departed: ILE, Killeen, TX - Destination: GPM, Grand Prairie, TX - Airport: ILE, Skylark Field, runway 01, 5,495 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 17, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 492 total, 60 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KILE ## 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 20180517005529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180517005529A), May 17, 2018: Cessna 150F, Killeen, TX, Substantial damage. On may 17, 2018, ^Mr. David f. kendall^ departed from Skylark Field in Cessna 150 N7750F, at approximately 1100L, using a maximum-performance takeoff for… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97324. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Owner's Manual Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 428 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Owner%27s%20Manual%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.