MIA99LA002

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Pocahontas, MS · October 2, 1998

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 2, 1998, 17:02 local (22:02 UTC)
Place
Pocahontas, MS
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N63447Cessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 16, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19981002046149A
Case key
44102

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The delay by the pilot-in-command (CFI) to abort the takeoff after the student landed slightly long and his delay to add power to perform a touch-and-go landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - ditch
Aborted takeoff - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Analysis

The student was briefed before takeoff what airwork maneuvers were to be performed and also that the CFI would reduce the throttle to idle to simulate an engine failure. The student performed the airwork maneuvers then while flying near a grass airstrip, the CFI applied carburetor heat and reduced the throttle to idle, as briefed. The student landed the airplane slightly long and was slow to apply power to perform a touch-and-go landing. Recognizing insufficient runway remaining, the CFI took the controls and aborted the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the runway into a ditch.

Factual narrative

On October 2, 1998, about 1702 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N63447, registered to Southern Wings, Inc., collided with a ditch while landing at a private airstrip near Pocahontas, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1630, from Hawkins Field, Jackson, Mississippi.

The CFI stated that before takeoff, he briefed what airwork maneuvers were to be performed and that he would simulate an engine failure by reducing the throttle to idle. After takeoff the student performed about 30 minutes of airwork then when near a grass airstrip, the CFI applied carburetor heat then reduced the throttle to idle to simulated an engine failure, as briefed. The student landed the airplane slightly long then he was slow to apply full throttle to go around. Recognizing insufficient runway to become airborne with trees ahead, the CFI aborted the go-around. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and collided with a ditch.

Aircraft

Registration
N63447
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15077321
Airframe hours
2,638
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Southern Wings, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 9, 1998 · 105 hours before
Departed
HKS · Jackson, MS
Airport
John Mosley Field, runway 31, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
31
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,260 total · 50 in this make and model · 891 as pilot in command · 330 in the last 90 days · 129 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
330° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
JAN, 16 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.