# NTSB LAX96LA088: Cessna 150L, N1246Q, Quartzite, AZ, December 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1995, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Quartzite, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.65979, -114.230346 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6598&lon=-114.2303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29361/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA088

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudgement of his distance and altitude relationship to the runway, which resulted in an undershoot and failure to achieve the proper touchdown point for landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during a landing, the airplane touched down short of the dirt runway and struck a log, which broke the nose wheel axle. The airplane subsequently ground looped and came to rest beside the runway.

## Factual narrative

On December 29, 1995, at 1000 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150L, N1246Q, landed short of the runway at Quartzite, Arizona, and struck a log.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The pilot and passenger were not injured.  The flight originated at Quartzite on the day of the accident at 0930 as a local area personal flight.

In his written statement, the pilot reported that he touched down short of the dirt runway and struck a log, which broke the nose wheel axle.  The aircraft subsequently ground looped off the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1246Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1246Q-2013-04-09), registration cancelled 2013-04-09, S/N 15072546, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15072546
- Airframe hours: 4549
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dean D. Monson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1995, 22 hours before
- Departed: 2L3
- Airport: 2L3, Quartzite Airstrip, runway 35, 4,000 × 60 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 100 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 25 °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 19951229042769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951229042769A), Dec 29, 1995: Cessna 150L, Quartzsite, AZ, Substantial damage. Touched down short of dirt runway broke nose wheel axle striking a log.

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.