# NTSB NYC86LA054: Cessna 150K, N5915J, Marlboro, NJ, December 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1985, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Marlboro, NJ
- Location: 39.4871° N, 75.3246° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marlboro, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4871&lon=-75.3246&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30281
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86LA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30281/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA054

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WHAT THE PLT DESCRIBED AS A STRONG GUST OF WIND ON LANDING. THE PLT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A WIND SHIFT OF APRX 45 DEGS. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN FAST AND DURING SUBSEQUENT BOUNCING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE WINDS, ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WERE VARYING FROM 240 TO 290 DEGS AT 20 KTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THE PLT STATED HE SHOULD HAVE USED BETTER JUDGEMENT IN FLYING UNDER THE GIVEN CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5915J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5915J-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N A1500215, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K
- 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: A1500215
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ed Kulas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 1985, 13 hours before
- Departed: 2BN, MATAWAN, NJ
- Airport: 2NB, Marlboro, runway 27, 2,200 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 68 total, 68 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 19851228073739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851228073739A), Dec 28, 1985: Cessna A150K, Matawan, NY, Substantial damage. Wind gusts landing. Bounced and porpoised. Collapsed nose gear. Too much gusty variable wind for a student.

## Other investigations on N5915J (3)

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.

- [NTSB MIA01LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA073), Feb 6, 2001: Cessna A150K (N5915J), Cabo Rojo, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to use carburetor heat during descent resulting in loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the airplane colliding with a fence and nosing over during a forced…
- [NTSB NYC78FGT03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FGT03), Feb 11, 1978: Cessna 150K (N5915J), Bloomsburg, PA, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC73FCQ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73FCQ05), Jul 16, 1972: Cessna A150K (N5915J), Oakley, KS, substantial damage

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.