# NTSB LAX96LA225: Cessna 150H, N22474, Angels Camp, CA, June 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1996, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Angels Camp, CA - Coordinates: 38.040737, -120.609741 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0407&lon=-120.6097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 17, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29467 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29467/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA225 ## Probable cause The attempt by the pilot to operate the aircraft with a float known to be leaking. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the operation of float equipped aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - landing gear,float assembly - leak - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The right-hand float of the rented float plane dug into the water and the aircraft nosed over on the 45th landing since the float was last pumped out. The float had required 330 strokes of the bilge pump to empty it. Postaccident inspection of the right float revealed two holes in the float that apparently were made the previous day. The pilot, who had received his float plane rating 10 days prior, reported that this was the only float plane he had ever flown, and that it was routine during his training to pump this float 80 strokes during preflight. When the float required 330 strokes on the morning of the accident, he thought this unusual, but decided to continue flying it after considering the normal number of pumps required, the number of landings the previous day, and the fact that the aircraft had been parked on the water overnight. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 1996, at 1100 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150H on floats, N22474, was substantially damaged when the right float dug into the water and the aircraft nosed over during landing on Melones Reservoir at Angels Camp, California. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight. The operator told the NTSB investigator that the pilot rented the aircraft the previous day and practiced landings on Melones Reservoir prior to camping out overnight. The pilot told the operator that the following morning the right float was low in the water, and that it took about 330 pumps with the bilge pump to empty the float. The pilot then practiced more takeoffs and landings, stopped to refuel the aircraft, and returned to practice more takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. He estimated performing 45 takeoffs and landings between the time he pumped out the float and when the accident occurred. The operator reported that there were two holes in the right float when the aircraft was recovered that had apparently been made the previous day. In his accident report, the pilot stated that he had received his single engine sea rating 10 days prior to the accident, and that this was the only float plane he had ever flown. It routinely took 80 pumps of the bilge pump as part of the preflight activities during his instruction and he "assumed that pumping the float a great deal was okay and did not pose a problem." When the float required over 330 pumps on the morning of the accident he thought this unusual, but considered the number of landings the previous day and the fact that the aircraft had been in the water overnight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22474](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22474-2011-08-10), registration cancelled 2011-08-10, S/N 15068305, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068305 - Airframe hours: 5813 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert A. Davids - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 10, 1996, 64 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 17 in this make and model, 54 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SCK, 32 nm away ## 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 19960612013399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960612013399A), Jun 12, 1996: Cessna 150H, Angels Camp, CA, Substantial damage. Float equipped plane dug in a float while landing on reservoir. Unaware of water in float. Two holes in same. ## Other investigations on N22474 (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 LAX94LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA059), Nov 28, 1993: Cessna 150H (N22474), Dardanelle, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE LOCAL WEATHER. THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STRONG DOWNDRAFT WIND CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS. 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.