# NTSB SEA05CA088: Cessna 150L, N1387Q, Eureka, MT, April 27, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 27, 2005, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Eureka, MT
- Coordinates: 48.819244, -114.929771 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.8192&lon=-114.9298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61383/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA088

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions during the landing roll. Factors include a 10 knot crosswind, with gusts up to 15 knots, and a taxiway sign near the point where the aircraft exited the runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - sign (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft therefore exited the side of the runway, where the horizontal stabilizer collided with a taxiway sign. The taxiway sign was knocked over and the horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. There were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft. At the time of the accident, there was a crosswind of 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots.

## Factual narrative

On April 27, 2005, about 1300 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N1387Q, registered to and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with a taxiway sign during landing at Eureka Airport, Eureka, Montana.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured.  The flight originated from Eureka at 1200 as a local flight.

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that during the landing roll on runway 36, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind.  The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the aircraft traveled to the side of the runway where the horizontal stabilizer collided with a taxiway sign.  The taxiway sign was knocked over and the horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time.

The pilot reported the winds to be from 080 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1387Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1387Q), registered now, S/N 15072687, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 72687
- Engines: Continental O-200A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Glen L. Hanley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 88M, Eureka, MT
- Destination: 88M
- Airport: 88M, Eureka Airport, runway 36

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 207 total, 177 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20050427005699I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050427005699I), Apr 27, 2005: Cessna 150L, Eureka, MT, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot stated that at touchdown, with an estimated crosswind of 10 knots, a strong gust caused the aircraft to become airborne. Aircraft drifted to edge…

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.

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