# NTSB LAX95LA308: Cessna 150M, N66758, Santa Ana, CA, August 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1995, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Santa Ana, CA - Coordinates: 33.70988, -117.870132 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7099&lon=-117.8701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA308 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - carburetor heat - not removed, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - airport sign/marker - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66758), registered now, S/N 15076255, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076255 - Airframe hours: 1825 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950827026029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950827026029A), Aug 27, 1995: Cessna 150M, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. High sink on final. Drifted off runway. Tried go around full flaps and carb heat on. Unable climb hit runway sign. ## Other investigations on N66758 (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 DEN04LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA056), Apr 2, 2004: Cessna 150M (N66758), Orem, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Contributing factors include the dark night light conditions, and the trees. 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.