# NTSB SEA07LA131: Cessna 150M, N9397U, Spanish Fork, UT, May 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2007, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.144165, -111.660552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1442&lon=-111.6606&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 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65833/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA131 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include gusty crosswinds, and a ditch near the runway environment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis Soon after touchdown in gusty crosswind conditions, the aircraft began rocking from side to side. The student pilot was unable to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway, and soon thereafter it departed the left side of the landing surface. After departing the runway it crossed an unpaved median and a taxiway, and then encountered a small ditch. The encounter with the ditch stopped the aircraft, and also resulted in the aircraft's right wing coming in contact with the terrain. There was no evidence of any anomaly in the rudder control system or the nosewheel steering system. In a post-accident interview, the pilot stated that the crosswind was more than he was able to handle. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2007, approximately 1415 mountain daylight time, the right wing of a Cessna 150M, N9397U, impacted the ground off the side of runway 30 at Spanish Fork Airport, Spanish Fork, Utah. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the partnership of which the student pilot is a member, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional proficiency flight, which departed the same airport about 15 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, while landing in gusty crosswind conditions on runway 30, the aircraft ballooned during the landing flare. When it touched down, it began rocking from side to side, and because he was unable to keep it aligned with the runway centerline, it soon departed the left side of the runway. After departing the runway, it crossed an unpaved median and a taxiway, and then encountered a small ditch. The encounter with the ditch stopped the aircraft, and also resulted in the aircraft's right wing coming in contact with the terrain. According to the FAA Inspector who later looked at the aircraft, there was no evidence of any anomaly in the rudder control system or the nosewheel steering system. In addition, the aircraft was looked at by an airframe and powerplant mechanic based at the Spanish Fork Airport, and he confirmed that there were no issues with the nose wheel steering or rudder systems. In a post-accident interview, the pilot stated that the crosswind was more than he was able to handle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9397U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9397U), registered now, S/N 15078345 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078345 - Airframe hours: 5239 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kerry D. Welch - Registered owner: DBL Systems , Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007 - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork Airport, runway 30, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 47 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## 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 20070518008309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070518008309A), May 18, 2007: Cessna 150M, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Ballooned during landing flare and upon touchdown, the aircraft began rocking uncontrollably. Aircraft departed the left side of runway 30, crossed an… 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.