# NTSB MIA97LA037: Cessna 150M, N714LF, Knoxville, TN, December 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 8, 1996, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.909503, -83.869354 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9095&lon=-83.8694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38187 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38187/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA037 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper planning/decision, and his failure to maintain proper runway alignment during a crosswind landing. The strong crosswind was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - sign ## Analysis After returning from a cross-country flight, the student pilot made several attempts to land on runway 18. The wind was reported to be from 260 degrees at 20 knots. A witness reported that after the last approach, the airplane touched down off the left side of the runway and subsequently collided with a road sign. The pilot stated he had 28 hours total flight time with 2 hours of crosswind landing experience. ## Factual narrative On December 8, 1996, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N714LF, registered to East Tennessee Pilot Club, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on landing roll out at Sky Ranch, Knoxville, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Tullahoma, Tennessee, about 1 hour 30 minutes before the accident. The student pilot stated he had just returned from a solo cross country flight. He looked at the wind sock and determined that he would be landing with a crosswind. He made three to four approaches which ended in a go-around each time. He entered right traffic for runway 18, completed his before landing check, lowered the flaps to 10 degrees, and determined that he would be landing with a 90-degree crosswind from the west. He could not remember if he applied any crosswind correction. The airplane drifted to the left, touched down on the edge of the runway, continued forward, and the left wing collided with a road side. A witness who observed the student pilot's landing confirmed his statement. A witness stated he observed the pilot make a go-around on runway 18. The wind sock indicated a 90-degree crosswind. He went inside the hangar to get a radio in order to talk to the student pilot. He overheard the student pilot talking with another pilot. He went back outside and saw the student pilot making another approach to runway 18. He did not observe any crosswind correction, the airplane drifted to the left, touched off the left side of the runway, traveled about 800 feet before the left wing collided with a road sign. This accident was not reported to the NTSB until December 12, 1996. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N714LF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N714LF), registered now, S/N 15079252, 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: 15079252 - Airframe hours: 6849 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: East Tennesse Pilot Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1996, 304 hours before - Departed: THA, TULLAHOMA, TN - Destination: TN98 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TN95, Sky Ranch, runway 18, 1,700 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 28 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 6 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 19961208042349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961208042349A), Dec 8, 1996: Cessna 150M, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. First solo cross country. Winds picked up. Lost control landing due to gust crosswind. (-23) student pilot on first cross country solo flight, wind increased… 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.