# NTSB MIA02LA077: Cessna 150L, N6613G, Lawrenceville, GA, April 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 2002 - Place: Lawrenceville, GA - Coordinates: 33.978332, -83.962501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9783&lon=-83.9625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cessna Aircraft Co., FSDO FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54446/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54446 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing and during his subsequent attempt at a go around, resulting in collision with a tree and impact with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While landing runway 25 at Gwinnett County-Briscoe Field, the pilot stated the aircraft, "was a little unstable", so he added power for a second touchdown attempt. Following his second touchdown, the tail of the aircraft skewed, "about 30 degrees [left] and shot on the grass". He added power, retracted flaps to 30 degrees, and pulled the main landing gear off the ground. He next heard tree branches impact the aircraft, and the aircraft impacted the terrain. The pilot stated no malfunctions or failures of the aircraft existed prior to the accident. The FAA inspector stated the aircraft did not have the airspeed or available power to successfully execute a go around in the configuration the aircraft wreckage was found. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2002, about 1600 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150L, N6613G, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting a landing at Lawrenceville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, and the airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight departed Jefferson, Georgia, about 30 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, the aircraft had been modified to a tail wheel configuration. His landing roll-out on runway 25 at Gwinnett County-Briscoe Field was abandoned because a left crosswind caused the pilot to touch down right of centerline, and the airplane was a "little unstable". He added power, became airborne to realign with the centerline, and attempted a second flare and touchdown when his tail skewed left about 30 degrees off runway heading. The aircraft left the runway off the right edge into the grass. He immediately added power for a go around, retracted flaps to 30 degrees, and pitched the nose up to get the landing gear off the grass. He next heard tree branches hit the aircraft, the left wing dropped, and the aircraft impacted the terrain in a 15- to 20-foot deep ravine adjacent to and downwind of the runway. The pilot stated no mechanical malfunction or failure of the aircraft or its components existed prior to the crash. Reported surface winds at the airport at the time of the accident were from 170 degrees at 8 knots. According to an FAA inspector, after the pilot lost control on his first landing touchdown and while attempting a second touchdown from the same approach, the aircraft veered about 45 degrees off runway 25 to the right, and onto a dirt/grass area. The aircraft next encountered a 12-foot deep ditch, became airborne, flew into the canopy of a small pine tree, and finally impacted the terrain in a 50-degree nose down attitude in a small wooded area in the ditch. He stated the aircraft did not have the airspeed or available power to successfully execute the go around in the configuration the pilot was using. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6613G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6613G-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N 15072113, 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: 15072113 - Airframe hours: 4264 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary G. Runnells - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2000, 431 hours before - Departed: 19A, Jefferson, GA - Destination: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County Briscoe Field, runway 25, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review November 30, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 2,189 total, 1,608 in this make and model, 2,050 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: LZU ## 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 20020402023389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020402023389A), Apr 2, 2002: Cessna 150L, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land his CE-150, with tail wheel conversion, when he lost control. Winds were 170 degrees at 08 knots. After attempting a 2nd… ## Other investigations on N6613G (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 NYC73FNE37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FNE37), Jun 28, 1973: Cessna 150 (N6613G), Hartford, CT, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54446. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams-LZU Airport (item 3, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-LZU%20Airport-Master.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF 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.