# NTSB LAX02LA025: Cessna 150L, N10680, Nogales, AZ, November 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 10, 2001, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Nogales, AZ - Coordinates: 31.450263, -110.829254 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4503&lon=-110.8293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53754/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain directional control while landing in a cross wind. He attempted a go-around, but inadvertently stalled the airplane, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane collided with the runway during an attempted go-around. The wind was from 120 degrees at 9 knots. While on downwind, the pilot was aware that the wind was pushing him toward the runway and he had to correct more than he expected to stay parallel to the runway. Once established on final, he lowered the flaps to 40 degrees, maintained 65 mph, and crabbed into the wind. The approach was stable until the pilot flared. He felt he must have taken some of his correction out, because just prior to touch down the airplane moved to the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear touched down near the edge of the runway. The pilot felt that if he continued the landing attempt, the right main and nose landing gear would be off the runway in dirt, and he would be in position to collide with the lights along the runway. He elected to attempt a go-around. He added full power and the nose of the airplane pitched up, and the airplane bounced about 40 feet back into the air. The airplane stalled, turned to the left, and struck the ground in a nose down, left wing low attitude near midfield. Both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2001, about 1140 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150L, N10680, collided with the runway during an attempted go-around at Nogales, Arizona. Alpha Air, Inc., was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Ryan Field, Tucson, Arizona, about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written statement. He reported that he crossed the airport at midfield while maintaining a heading of 160 degrees to enter the left down wind for runway 21. He recalled that the winds were from 120 degrees at 9 knots. While on downwind, he was aware that the wind was pushing him toward the runway and he had to correct more than he expected to stay parallel to the runway. As he turned to the base leg, he reduced power and selected 20 degrees of flaps. The wind continued to push him toward the runway, so he made a continuous turn to final. Once established on final, he lowered the flaps to 40 degrees, maintained 65 mph, and crabbed into the wind. The pilot said the approach was stable and he was maintaining centerline until he flared. He felt he must have taken some of his correction out, because just prior to touchdown the airplane moved to the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear touched down near the edge of the runway. He felt that if he continued the landing attempt, the right main and nose landing gear would be off the runway in dirt, and he would be in position to collide with the lights along the runway. He elected to attempt a go-around. The pilot said he added full power and the nose of the airplane pitched up. A witness told him that the airplane bounced about 40 feet back into the air. The pilot said the airplane stalled, turned to the left, and struck the ground in a nose down, left wing low attitude near midfield. Both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10680](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10680-2003-04-09), registration cancelled 2003-04-09, S/N 15074969, built 1973 (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: 15074969 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alpha Air - Registered owner: Manasco Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: RYN, TUCSON, AZ - Destination: OLS, NOGALES, AZ - Airport: OLS, Nogales International, runway 21, 7,199 × 90 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 58 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: OLS ## 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 20011110032299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011110032299A), Nov 10, 2001: Cessna 150L, Nogales, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On November 10, 2001, about 1140 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150L, N10680, made a hard landing at Nogales, Arizona. Alpha air was operating… 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.