# NTSB IAD99LA009: Cessna 150L, N11951, Clinton, MD, October 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 1998, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Clinton, MD - Coordinates: 38.83081, -76.920257 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8308&lon=-76.9203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD99LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44165/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA009 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was on his second supervised solo flight. The flight instructor was positioned at the end of the runway with a handheld radio. He stated that the student pilot had completed eight landings and this landing was to a full stop. The student pilot reported that everything was the same as the previous landings until the airplane 'experienced an updraft.' The airplane ballooned up and when it came down, it bounced back into the air. The student pilot stated that he 'pushed down nose to correct for lifting,' and could not recover. The nose wheel struck the runway, collapsing the nose gear. The airplane slid into the grass infield and came to rest in an upright position. No mechanical problems were found with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 1998, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N11951, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Washington Executive-Hyde Airport, Clinton, Maryland. The certificated student pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Hyde Airport, about 1000. According to the flight instructor, who was positioned near the end of the runway with a hand held radio, the student pilot was on his second supervised solo flight. He recalled that the student pilot had completed eight landings prior to the accident. The student pilot reported that everything was the same as his previous landings, except over the numbers (on the runway), the airplane "experienced an updraft." He stated that the airplane ballooned up, and when it came down, it bounced back into the air. He pushed "down nose, to correct for lifting" and could not flare soon enough to recover. The nose wheel struck the runway, collapsing the nose gear and the airplane slid into the grass infield coming to rest in an upright position. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage on October 12, 1998. The Inspector reported that in addition to the nose gear collapsing, the engine casing was punctured, and both wings incurred spar damage. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were found with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11951](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11951-2001-11-29), registration cancelled 2001-11-29, S/N 15075729, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - 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: 15075729 - Airframe hours: 5251 - Engines: Continental O-200-A48 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Aerodyne Services - Registered owner: Robert Falkenstein/Milt Gilley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 1998, 54 hours before - Departed: W32 - Destination: W32 - Airport: W32, Washington Executive/Hyde, runway 5, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 16 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ADW, 4 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 19981011028819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981011028819A), Oct 11, 1998: Cessna 150L, Clinton, MD, Destroyed. Acft was on approach when high winds caused it to land hard on its nose breaking the nose gear. (-23) 10:00 am started traffic pattern work solo, take off and… 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.