# NTSB MIA94LA088: Cessna 150M, N714MJ, Vero Beach, FL, March 8, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1994, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.64047, -80.390396 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6405&lon=-80.3904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37506/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA088

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A SOLO FLIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO LAND. THE AIRPLANE BALLOONED TWO TIMES BEFORE LANDING ON THE NOSE GEAR, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE.

## Factual narrative

On March 8, 1994, about 1130 eastern standard time, N714MJ, a Cessna 150M, experienced a nose gear collapse, on landing at Vero Beach, Florida, New Hibiscus Airport while on a 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight. The airplane is registered to and operated by Citrus Grove Aviation Inc. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the same airport about 5 minutes earlier.

The instructor pilot cleared the student pilot for a local solo flight and observed the airplane land hard on the first landing attempt. The airplane ballooned and landed on the nose gear, which collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N714MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N714MJ), registered now, S/N 15079279, built 1977 (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: 15079279
- Airframe hours: 4636
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Citrus Grove Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Citrus Grove Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 24, 1994, 61 hours before
- Airport: X-52, New Hibiscus

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 53 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Observed at: VRB, 8 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 19940308004319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940308004319A), Mar 8, 1994: Cessna 150M, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Bounced landing. Ballooned. Came down on nose gear which collapsed. Veered off runway.

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.

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