# NTSB NYC04CA125: Cessna 150, N7795E, Sacramento, KY, May 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2004, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, KY - Coordinates: 37.39611, -87.235275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3961&lon=-87.2353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to land with a tailwind, and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vehicle - object - residence ## Analysis According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from runway 34, at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, he observed "dark clouds" surrounding the airport, and decided to return to the airport to land. As he turned onto final approach at 700 feet, and about 65 mph, he noticed the wind was blowing from the southwest, and applied left aileron and right rudder to compensate for it. During the landing flare, a gust of wind blew the airplane to the right. The airplane touched down on the right side of the runway, but the pilot was unable to maintain correction with full left rudder and braking. The airplane then continued off the runway, and impacted a parked car and then a garage door on the airport, before coming to rest. Winds reported at an airport about 40 miles to the southwest, at 1353, were from 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2004, at 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 150, N7795E, was substantially damaged during landing at the David Lowe Airport (80KY), Sacramento, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from runway 34, at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, he observed "dark clouds" surrounding the airport, and decided to return to the airport to land. As he turned onto final approach at 700 feet, and about 65 mph, he noticed the wind was blowing from the southwest, and applied left aileron and right rudder to compensate for it. During the landing flare, a gust of wind blew the airplane to the right. The airplane touched down on the right side of the runway, but the pilot was unable to maintain correction with full left rudder and braking. The airplane then continued off the runway, and impacted a parked car and then a garage door on the airport, before coming to rest. Winds reported at an airport about 40 miles to the southwest, at 1353, were from 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7795E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7795E-2007-04-25), registration cancelled 2007-04-25, S/N 17595, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17595 - Airframe hours: 4348 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Logan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 4, 2004, 16 hours before - Departed: 80KY, Sacramento, KY - Destination: 80KY - Airport: 80KY, David Lowe Airport, runway 34, 1,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 9, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 271 total, 133 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BWG, 40 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 20040514007419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040514007419A), May 14, 2004: Cessna 150, Sacramento, KY, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft experienced strong winds while landing on turf runway. Aircraft slid into hanger and car before coming to rest against garage door. 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.