# NTSB LAX92LA073: Cessna 150F, N8259S, Lancaster, CA, December 27, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1991, 09:46 local (17:46 UTC)
- Place: Lancaster, CA
- Coordinates: 34.719944, -118.149307 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7199&lon=-118.1493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA073

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE OPERATOR AND THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT AND NOSED OVER AS IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY.  ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE STUDENT PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 27 HOURS OF AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH 5 OF THOSE HOURS AS PILOT IN COMMAND (SOLO).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8259S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8259S-2010-10-18), registration cancelled 2010-10-18, S/N 15061859, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15061859
- Airframe hours: 3575
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Midfield Aviation
- Registered owner: William R. Whitehart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 1991, 50 hours before
- Departed: APV, APPLE VALLEY, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: WJF, General Wm. J. Fox Afld, runway 24, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 1 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 19911227057529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911227057529A), Dec 27, 1991: Cessna 150F, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. Student landed hard collapsing nose gear and causing a nose over.

## Other investigations on N8259S (1)

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.

- [NTSB DIA67D0043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA67D0043), Feb 11, 1967: Cessna 150 (N8259S), College Park, MD, substantial damage

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.

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