# NTSB GAA19CA543: Cessna 150, N21979, Memphis, TN, September 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2019, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Memphis, TN - Coordinates: 35.20111, -90.053886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2011&lon=-90.0539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100257 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA543 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100257/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100257 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA543 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during landing, she flared the airplane early and that it then skipped on the runway during touchdown. The airplane drifted right, and the flight instructor then took the flight controls, but the airplane continued right. The airplane then lifted off about midfield, spun, and came to rest in grass right of the runway. The flight instructor reported that he was a new instructor. He added that, while the student was landing, the approach was high and slow as the airplane crossed the threshold, that the student flared "very high," and that he attempted to instruct her on how to recover, but she unexpectedly "pitched [the airplane] up further." He took control of the airplane, applied full power, retracted the flaps, and attempted a go-around. He added that the airplane was struggling to stay airborne and that he was concerned that it might impact some construction cranes beyond the end of the runway, so he turned right, and the airplane impacted the ground right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during landing, she flared early, and the airplane skipped during touchdown. The airplane drifted right, the flight instructor took the flight controls, but the airplane continued right. The airplane then lifted off about midfield, then "pancaked and spun" and came to rest in the grass to the right of the runway. The flight instructor reported that he was a new flight instructor. He added that, while the student pilot was landing, the approach was high and slow as the airplane crossed the threshold. He added that she flared "very high," he attempted to instruct her how to recover, but she unexpectedly "pitched up further." He took control of the airplane, applied full power, retracted flaps, and attempted a go around. The airplane was struggling to stay airborne and he was concerned the airplane might impact some construction cranes beyond the end of the runway, so he attempted to turn right. The airplane impacted the ground to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21979](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21979-2021-04-24), registration cancelled 2021-04-24, S/N 15074585, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074585 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: M01, Memphis, TN - Destination: M01, Memphis, TN - Airport: M01, General Dewitt Spain, runway 17, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2017; seat: right; flight hours: 23,000 total, 10,000 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 77.8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KMEM, 9 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 20190912012999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190912012999A), Sep 12, 2019: Cessna 150L, Memphis, TN, Substantial damage. * On September 12, 2019 approx. 0845[privacy data omitted] was giving [privacy data omitted] flight instruction in a Cessna-150. * On the final approach that… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100257. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477857&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.