# NTSB LAX95LA131: Cessna 150E, N6277T, Visalia, CA, March 13, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1995, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Visalia, CA
- Coordinates: 36.289413, -119.380287 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2894&lon=-119.3803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29051
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29051/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA131

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudged landing flare and his improper bounced landing recovery technique.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A PORPOISE FOLLOWING A BOUNCED LANDING. THE PILOT DID NOT RECOVER CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSING.

## Factual narrative

On March 13, 1995, at 1545 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150E, N6277T, collapsed the nose gear following a porpoise from a bounced landing at Visalia, California.  The aircraft was operated by Valley Aircraft of Tulare, California, and rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft incurred substantial damage to the engine firewall.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated at Tulare on the day of the accident at 1435.

According to the operator, the aircraft entered a porpoise following a bounced landing.  The pilot did not recover control of the aircraft prior to the nose gear collapsing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6277T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6277T), registered now, S/N 15060977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150E
- Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15060977
- Airframe hours: 5530
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Valley Aircraft
- Registered owner: Michael Schoenau
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1994, 48 hours before
- Departed: TLR, TULARE, CA
- Destination: VIS
- Airport: VIS, Visalia Muni, runway 30, 6,556 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 156 total, 107 in this make and model, 114 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19950313004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950313004759A), Mar 13, 1995: Cessna 150E, Visalia, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced. Porpoised. Collapsed nose gear landing. Failed use proper recovery procedures.

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.