LAX05LA138

The nose landing gear collapsed after the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot landed the airplane, but shortly after touchdown, the airplane began to shake violently and began fishtailing left and right. The airplane departed the runway surface to the left and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot indicated that he could have prevented the accident if he had applied full power, pulled back on the control yoke, and gone around after experiencing the shaking. Examination of the airplane by a local mechanic following the accident revealed no pre-existing anomalies with the airplane.

On April 14, 2005, at 1910 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150F airplane, N8324G, veered off the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed while landing at the Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC), Prescott, Arizona. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Murietta, California, and was destined for Prescott, where the pilot was going to refuel the airplane and check the weather before continuing on to Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not not filed for the flight.

During a telephone interview conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that air traffic control asked him to over fly the airport at 6,500 feet and enter a downwind leg to runway 21L. The pilot did so, and though his approach was a bit high, the landing was good. However, shortly after touchdown the airplane began to shake violently and began fishtailing left and right. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. Sometime during the excursion, the left and right wing tips scraped the ground. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller; engine cowling, mounts, and firewall; nose landing gear; and the left outboard wing tips and ribs.

The weather observation facility at PRC reported the following information following the accident: wind from 260 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clear skies; temperature 18 degrees Celsius; dew point -7 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting of 29.99 inches of mercury.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) under the section titled, "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot indicated that he could have applied full power, pulled back on the control yoke, and gone around after experiencing the sideways jerking and back-and-forth movement began. He reported having accumulated a total of 452 hours of flight time, of which 9.3 hours were accumulated in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Examination of the airplane by a local mechanic following the accident revealed no pre-existing anomalies with the airplane.