LAX93LA334

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna A150M · Sacramento, CA · August 23, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 23, 1993, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC)
Place
Sacramento, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9861JCessna A150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 26, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930823031589A
Case key
28458

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The dual student pilot's failure to maintain directional control, improper use of the flight controls, and failure to relinquish the flight controls to the CFI. The soft dirt was a factor in this accident.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedDual studentCause
Flight controls - improper use ofDual studentCause
Relinquishing of control - not performedDual studentCause
Nose gear collapsedLanding - roll
Terrain condition - softFactor
Landing gear,nose gear strut - overload
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The dual noncertificated student pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The student applied right pedal, rudder and brakes, to stop the airplane. The CFI attempted to assume control of the airplane, but the dual student would not relinquish control of the airplane. The airplane entered the soft terrain, collapsed the nose gear, and nosed over onto its back.

Factual narrative

On August 23, 1993, at 1115 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A150M, N9861J, exited runway 16 at Natomas Field, Sacramento, California, and nosed over. The pilots were conducting a local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, registered to Sacramento Aero Services, Inc., and operated by American Aero Club, Inc., Natomas, California, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor (CFI) nor the noncertificated student pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Natomas Field at 0945 hours.

Neither the CFI nor the operator informed the Safety Board of this accident. An anonymous person informed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Sacramento Flight Standards District Office of this accident on August 26, 1993. A FAA flight standards inspector examined the airplane and determined that the airplane had sustained structural damage.

Both the CFI and the operator submitted an unsigned Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. The CFI reported that after completing airwork at the practice area the flight returned to Natomas Field for traffic pattern instruction. On the first approach the CFI instructed the student to execute a go-around. The student satisfactorily completed the go-around and re-entered the traffic pattern for a second approach to a landing.

During the landing roll the student pilot began to instinctively control the airplane as if he was driving an automobile by stepping on the right rudder pedal to slow the airplane. This action caused the airplane to veer to the right. The student panicked during the sudden departure from the centerline. The CFI advised the student that he assumed the controls, but the student froze on the controls and continued to operate the controls as if he were driving an automobile to arrest the right excursion. The CFI was unable to regain control of the airplane.

The airplane exited the asphalt surface runway and entered the soft dirt. The airplane continued its landing roll until the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over onto its back.

Aircraft

Registration
N9861J
Reported as
Cessna A150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15000760
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
American Aero Club, Inc.
Registered owner
Sacramento Aero Services, Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · August 10, 1993 · 36 hours before
Airport
Q96 · Natomas Field, runway 16, 2,700 × 30 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
31
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
606 total · 322 in this make and model · 475 as pilot in command · 164 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point -0 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.