# NTSB NYC00LA189: Cessna 150, N8362M, Freemont, DE, July 7, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2000, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Freemont, DE - Coordinates: 38.690517, -75.379585 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6905&lon=-75.3796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49666/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance and delayed power application while attempting to release a banner from the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot performed a descent to an altitude of 50 feet to release a banner, which the airplane was towing. As the pilot applied power to go-around, the airplane's nose gear came in contact with the ground. The airplane bounced 15-20 feet into the air, the pilot released the banner, and the airplane continued to climb. A subsequent landing was attempted and the pilot noticed the throttle was stuck in the 3/4 open position. The mixture was reduced and the magnetos were turned off to land the airplane without power. During the landing flare, the nose of the airplane came in contact with the ground, because the nose gear had collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no pre-impact malfunctions of the airplane or engine. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2000, about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 150, N8362M, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground during a descent, near Freemont, Delaware. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the banner-towing flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot stated, "While dropping a banner, I always add power at 50 feet AGL in order to climb out. On this particular drop, when I was 50 feet above the ground, I proceeded to push the throttle in, but the plane did not accelerate. The plane then dropped from an altitude of about 40 feet AGL. I assume the banner hit the ground, causing me to fall. But I really do not know. The airplane then bounced about 15-20 feet in the air, and that's when I felt the power kick in and the plane began to accelerate. As the plane was on its way up after hitting the ground, I pulled the release ring, releasing the banner from the airplane. After hitting, the plane was shaking, and was somewhat difficult to control. I decided to land the plane, and when I attempted to close the throttle in order to slow my airspeed, it didn't work. The throttle was stuck open at the amount of power I added while dropping, which was about 3/4 open. I could add full power, but I couldn't decrease power. Since I couldn't decrease power I decided to pull the mixture when I was on final, and land without power. I pulled the mixture, and nothing happened. On my last attempt at landing, I turned the magnetos off, which stopped the engine and I landed the plane. It was a very soft landing, and after the main gear touched down, the nose started to come down. It was at this point I realized that the nose gear was broken because the nose kept coming down. The propeller had stopped in a horizontal position, so it did not come in contact with the ground." In a subsequent telephone interview, the pilot reported the weather was clear, with winds from the northwest at 10-12 knots. She stated that weather was not a factor in the accident. The pilot reported no abnormalities of the airplane or engine. According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot had accumulated 413 hours of total flight experience, 174 of which were in the make and model of the accident airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nose gear, the engine mounts, and the firewall. In addition, the throttle and mixture cables were jammed in the area of the firewall. No pre-impact malfunctions of the airplane or engine were observed. The winds reported at 1554, at an airport 5 miles away, were from a heading of 010 degrees, at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8362M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8362M-2005-09-29), registration cancelled 2005-09-29, S/N A15000062, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna A150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150k) (registry code 2071824) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A15000062 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: G And D Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: GED, GEORGETOWN, DE - Airport: NONE, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 413 total, 174 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 114 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GED, 5 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 20000707009699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000707009699A), Jul 7, 2000: Cessna A150K, Fairmont, DE, No damage. (-23) On July 7, 2000, at approximately 1500 EDT, a Cessna CE-150-K, registered as N8362M and operated by sky ADS, inc. was substantially damaged during banner… 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.