# NTSB LAX94LA024: Cessna 150K, N6067G, California City, CA, October 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1993, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: California City, CA - Coordinates: 35.150123, -117.920944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1501&lon=-117.9209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28578 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28578/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA024 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO ASSURE THAT THE NOSE WHEEL AXLE WAS PROPERLY SECURED DURING PREVIOUS MAINTENANCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,axle - not secured (cause) - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE STUDENT PILOT COMPLAINED OF LOSING THE ABILITY TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE PEDALS. AS THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS, THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDERED, THEN LURCHED ONTO ITS NOSE & RIGHT WINGTIP. THIS RESULTED IN A PROP STRIKE, ENGINE STOPPAGE & DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING & WING SPAR. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE BOLT THAT FORMED THE NOSE GEAR AXLE & HELD THE NOSE WHEEL TO THE NOSE GEAR FORK HAD BACKED OUT. THE AN310-5 NUT & COTTER PIN THAT RETAINED THE BOLT WERE MISSING. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1993, at 1600 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N6067G, nosed over and collided with the runway surface after an on-ground loss of control on runway 06 at the California City Municipal Airport, California City, California. The pilots were conducting a visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, operated by Van M. Pray, Jr., California City, was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The local flight originated from the California City Municipal Airport at 1500 hours. The airplane was returning from the local practice area and entered the airport traffic pattern for the purpose of practicing touch-and-go landings. The student pilot was manipulating the controls and touched down on runway 06 without incident. During the landing roll, the student pilot told the CFI he could not steer the airplane using the pedals. As the CFI started to take the controls, the airplane shuddered. The airplane's nose pitch down, and veered to the right with the right wing touching the ground as the airplane came to a stop. The airplane was examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic after the accident. According to the mechanic, the bolt that forms the nose gear axle and holds the nose wheel to the nose gear fork had backed out. The AN310-5 nut that retains the bolt and cotter pin were missing. The airplane was last examined during a 100-hour inspection on September 24, 1993, about 91 flight hours before the accident. The mechanic who performed the inspection told the National Transportation Safety Board investigator during a telephone interview that he did not recall replacing the cotter pin that keeps the AN310-5 nut from turning on the axle bolt. The mechanic indicated the cotter pin may have been missing since the 100-hour inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6067G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6067G), registered now, S/N 15071567, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 71567 - Airframe hours: 6830 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Van M. Pray, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 24, 1993, 91 hours before - Departed: L71 - Airport: L71, California City Municipal, runway 6, 6,035 × 55 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; flight engineer, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,600 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 320 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F ## 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 19931023040679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931023040679A), Oct 23, 1993: Cessna 150K, California City, CA, Substantial damage. Student reported no steer on landing. CFI took over. Wing nose hit runway. Nose axle bolt came out. No cotter pin. 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.