# NTSB NYC96LA045: Cessna 150J, N50836, Kutztown, PA, December 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 1995, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Kutztown, PA - Coordinates: 40.520526, -75.77037 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5205&lon=-75.7704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39138/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA045 ## Probable cause the student pilot's selection of an unsuitable runway for landing. The snow covered runway was a related factor. ## 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 - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CARRYING A PASSENGER. HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT TO CHECK RUNWAY CONDITIONS AND WIND. TWO RUNWAYS WERE AVAILABLE. ONE WAS HARD SURFACED, AND HAD BEEN PLOWED, BUT HAD A CROSSWIND. THE OTHER RUNWAY WAS A SNOW COVERED TURF RUNWAY THAT WAS INTO THE WIND. HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS ON UNICOM TO LAND ON THE TURF RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE ADVISED AGAINST LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY RUNWAY CONDITION INFORMATION. THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE APPROACH, TOUCHED DOWN, AND AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE SNOW, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. HE REPORTED THAT THE SNOW WAS ABOUT 8 INCHES DEEP, HE PICKED THE RUNWAY BECAUSE IT WAS INTO THE WIND, AND HE THOUGHT THE SNOW WAS HARD PACKED. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 1995, at 1210 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N50836, was substantially damaged during a landing at the Kutztown Airport, Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The student pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal transportation flight which originated at Smoketown, Pennsylvania, at 1130, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: Decided to land on runway 28 due to wind direction - Called UNICOM on downwind of intention to land on 28. Called on base and another plane taxing said they would hold. Did not say whether 28 was safe. After initial contact plane rolled on snow until it lost most forward momentum. Right gear dropped in deeper snow and caused nose wheel to come down and plane nosed over and slid to a stop.... In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he chose runway 28 because he thought the snow was hard packed, and the runway was into the wind; however, after landing, he determined that the snow was soft, and its depth was about 8 inches. Additionally, he reported that, although the passenger held a pilot certificate, he did not make any decisions about the flight or operate the flight controls. In a telephone interview, an FAA Inspector reported that runway 17/35, a hard surfaced runway which was free of snow was also available. Additionally, he reported that the pilot of another airplane had advised against landing on runway 28, but offered no information on actual runway conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50836](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50836), registered now, S/N 15069586, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069586 - Airframe hours: 3481 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vintage Aero Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1995, 100 hours before - Departed: 37PA, SMOKETOWN, PA - Destination: N31 - Airport: N31, Kutztown, runway 28, 2,260 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 132 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 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 19951229042819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951229042819A), Dec 29, 1995: Cessna 150J, Kutztown, PA, Substantial damage. Landed on snow covered runway and nosed over. Plowed runway 34 was available. Student carried pilot passenger. 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.