# NTSB NYC95LA186: Cessna 150E, N3992U, West Addison, VT, August 8, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1995, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: West Addison, VT - Location: 43.8020° N, 73.1130° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BLSG BRANDON (VT33), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8020&lon=-73.1130&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 8, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39025/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor is a soft landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT FLEW TO AN AIRPORT WITH A TURF RUNWAY, WITH WHICH HE WAS FAMILIAR. DUE TO DETERIORATING RUNWAY CONDITIONS FROM RECENT RAINS, THE LOCAL PILOTS WERE LANDING TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH UNICOM, AND MADE TWO LOW PASSES OVER THE RUNWAY TO VISUALLY CHECK THE SURFACE. HE CONTINUED WITH THE APPROACH AND LANDED, TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. DURING ROLL-OUT THE NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED A SOFT AREA, AND DUG IN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN, AND CAME UP ON ITS NOSE, AND THEN FELL OFF ON THE RIGHT WING. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1995, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N3992U, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at West Addison, Vermont. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight originated in Shelbourne, Vermont, about 1015. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: Maintaining currency with soft-field landing and take offs, I flew from Plattsburgh to Shelburne and proceeded to West Addison, a field with which I was familiar. I was unable to get anyone to respond to radio communications at West Addison, but I carefully surveyed landing strip twice from the air, flying low along its entire length, once north, then south. I observed another plane near strip, wind sock & many people. I executed a soft-field landing, and landed normally. Taxiing along runway to a point at which I could exit, however, the nose wheel caught a muddy pothole.... The FAA reported that the runway at West Addison was 3,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and had a turf surface, which was wet and muddy due to recent rains. Local pilots were aware of the runway condition, and landed to the side of the runway. The accident pilot was familiar with the airport, but not the condition of the landing surface. He elected to land on the side of the runway. Due to the more visible deterioration at the northern end of the field, the pilot landed from south to north, with a light tailwind. During ground roll, the nose wheel encountered a soft spot and dug into the landing surface. The airplane nosed down, fell on it's right wing, and bent the spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3992U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3992U-2001-10-24), registration cancelled 2001-10-24, S/N 15061392, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150E - Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061392 - Airframe hours: 3054 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joshua B. Wallace - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1995, 34 hours before - Departed: 9B3, SHELBURNE, VT - Destination: VT33 - Airport: VT33, West Addison, runway 36, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 413 total, 350 in this make and model, 331 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 80 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19950808023909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950808023909A), Aug 8, 1995: Cessna 150E, West Addison, VT, Substantial damage. Hit a soft spot on light downwind landing turf field. Nosed down. Fell back on a wing and bent the spar. ## Other investigations on N3992U (2) 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 NYC68F0502](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68F0502), Jun 7, 1968: Cessna 150 (N3992U), Torrington, CT, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC67D0376](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67D0376), Nov 13, 1966: Cessna 150 (N3992U), Burlington, CT, 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.