- Date
- July 15, 1999, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Granville, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N50079Cessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990715042709A
- Case key
- 46940
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 not maintaining a proper glidepath during the visual approach to the runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot entered the traffic pattern and an extended downwind leg was performed to allow for sufficient spacing between another airplane on the runway. On final approach, full flaps were added and power was reduced to 1,500 rpm. On short final he 'appeared a little low' and had a 'higher sink rate than he was happy with.' Power was added to stop the descent, and about 30 feet short of the runway threshold, the nosewheel of the airplane struck a gravestone, and the underside of the fuselage impacted a monument. The pilot continued the approach, and landed approximately 100 feet down the length of the runway.
Factual narrative
On July 15, 1999, approximately 0830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N50079, was substantially damaged while landing at the Granville Airport (B01), Granville, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at B01 and prepared for a landing on Runway 16, a 2,500 ft. long asphalt runway. An extended downwind leg was performed to allow for sufficient spacing between another airplane on the runway. On final approach, full flaps were added and power was reduced to 1,500 rpm. On short final he "appeared a little low" and had a "higher sink rate than he was happy with." Power was added to stop the descent, and about 30 feet short of the runway threshold, the nosewheel of the airplane struck a gravestone, and the underside of the fuselage impacted a monument. The pilot continued the approach, and landed approximately 100 feet down the length of the runway.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage and determined that the nose gear was sheared off and the underside of the fuselage was torn open from behind the cockpit to the point where the main gear attaches to the fuselage. The main gear was pushed into the fuselage and the empennage was buckled and wrinkled.
The pilot reported 146 hours of total flight experience.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N50079
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069051
- Airframe hours
- 3,193
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard Bovey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 1, 1999 · 78 hours before
- Departed
- B01 · NY
- Airport
- B01 · Granville Airport, runway 16, 2,500 × 36 ft, asphalt
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 146 total · 36 in this make and model · 62 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RUT, 15 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.