LAX95LA308

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Santa Ana, CA · August 27, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 27, 1995, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
Place
Santa Ana, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N66758Cessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 27, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950827026029A
Case key
29197

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 student's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition, and his failure to raise the landing flaps and turn off the carburetor heat during the attempted go-around.

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 - in flightApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Weather condition - crosswind
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Go-around - attemptedPilot in command
Raising of flaps - not performedPilot in commandCause
Carburetor heat - not removedPilot in commandCause
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - airport sign/marker
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The student reported that he was performing traffic pattern touch-and-go operations. On final for runway 19L, he observed a Boeing 737 crossing the extended final approach path on a perpendicular taxiway. The taxiway crossed about 500 feet prior to the approach end of runway 19L. The student said he added some power to ensure that he had sufficient vertical clearance from the area of jet exhaust/turbulence, then resumed his approach to the runway with the addition of full flaps. As the aircraft neared the touchdown point, it suddenly developed a high sink rate and began drifting to the left. The pilot said he added full power to go around, but neglected to turn off the carburetor heat and raise the flaps. The aircraft did not climb and continued drifting left off the runway until the nose gear struck a runway sign. The aircraft then impacted on the right wing tip and nose on the runway.

Factual narrative

On August 27, 1995, at 1420 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N66758, collided with the ground and runway signs during landing at the John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by Christian Flight Institute, Inc., of Orange, California, and was rented by the student pilot for a local area solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the John Wayne Airport on the day of the accident at 1415.

In his written statement, the student reported that he was performing traffic pattern touch-and-go operations. On final for runway 19L he observed a Boeing 737 crossing the extended final approach path on a perpendicular taxiway. The taxiway crosses about 500 feet prior to runway 19L's approach end. The student said he added some power to ensure that he had sufficient vertical clearance from the area of jet exhaust turbulence, then resumed his approach to the runway with the addition of full flaps. As the aircraft neared the touchdown point, it suddenly developed a high sink rate and began drifting to the left. The pilot said he added full power to go around, but neglected to turn off the carburetor heat and raise the flaps. The aircraft did not climb and continued drifting left off the runway until the nose gear struck a runway sign. The aircraft then impacted on the right wing tip and nose on the runway.

Aircraft

Registration
N66758
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15076255
Airframe hours
1,825
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Christian Flight Institute, In
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 8, 1995 · 7 hours before
Departed
SNA
Airport
SNA · John Wayne, runway 19L, 2,887 × 75 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
32
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
48 total · 48 in this make and model · 5 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 12 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
SNA

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N66758 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.