- Date
- March 31, 1999, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Leonardtown, MD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8524JCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990331002869A
- Case key
- 46060
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a crosswind landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a solo landing to Runway 29, the pilot experienced a 'wind shear' from the left. The right main landing gear struck the ground, and a porpoise ensued. The front landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the runway. Approximately 3 minutes after exiting the airplane, the pilot observed 'the airplane on fire.' Winds were reported at an airport approximately 7 miles away, from 210 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 29 hours, including 3 hours of solo flight experience.
Factual narrative
On March 31, 1999, about 1230 Eastern Standing Time, a Cessna 150, N8524J, was substantially damaged during a landing at the Saint Mary's County Airport (2W6), Leonardtown, Maryland. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91.
According to the pilot, he was performing solo takeoffs and landing to Runway 29 at 2W6. He stated that while in the landing flare, "there was no wind, and then two wind shears from the left." The second shear forced the right main landing gear to contact the runway, and a "porpoise" ensued. The front landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the runway. The pilot exited the airplane, and approximately 3 minutes later, observed "the airplane on fire." The pilot stated that the flight was his fourth solo flight. He had approximately 29 hours of flight experience, including 3 hours of solo flight experience.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The Inspector stated that the front landing gear was separated from the airplane, and the fuel line was severed from the gasculator bowl. He further stated that the exhaust pipe was in the vicinity of the severed fuel line.
The airport did not have weather reporting capabilities. The pilot reported the wind from 230 degrees at 10 knots. At 1155, at an airport approximately 7 miles away, wind was reported from 210 degrees and 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8524J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 150-66424
- Airframe hours
- 3,650
- Engine
- Lycoming O-200, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Piedmont Flight Center
- Registered owner
- Arthur L. Carr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 19, 1999 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- 2W6
- Airport
- 2W6 · Saint Marys County Apt., runway 29, 4,150 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 29 total · 29 in this make and model · 3 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NHK, 7 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.