# NTSB SEA95LA114: Cessna 150J, N51146, Miles City, MT, June 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 1995, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Miles City, MT - Coordinates: 46.220138, -105.599716 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2201&lon=-105.5997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42161 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42161/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA114 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Factors to the accident were: The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT WAS PRACTICING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD. AT 150 FEET AGL, THE PILOTS FELT A BUMP AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE STUDENT CORRECTED TO THE LEFT TO REALIGN WITH THE ROAD. WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO ADD FULL POWER. THE STUDENT ADDED FULL POWER AND TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OFF AT 50 FEET AGL, WHEN ANOTHER BUMP WAS FELT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A RAPID DESCENT AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SWUNG AROUND AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH NOSE FIRST. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 1995, at 0745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N51146, collided with a ditch next to a dirt road located 35 miles northwest of Miles City, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight had originated from Miles City. In a written statement, the flight instructor reported that the student was practicing a forced landing to a dirt road. An approach was set up using 10 degrees, then 20 degrees of flaps. At 150 feet AGL, the flight instructor stated that they felt a "bump" and the airplane drifted to the right of the road. The student corrected with a shallow turn back to the left to realign with the road. At 100 feet AGL the student extended full flaps. The flight instructor then told the student to apply full power. The student applied full power and turned the carburetor heat off. The airplane leveled off at approximately 50 feet AGL and another "bump" was felt. The flight instructor took over when the airplane began a rapid descent to the right and the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane swung around and collided nose first into a ditch next to the road. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51146](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51146-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 15069794, 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: 15069794 - Airframe hours: 5032 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mitchell, Clifton G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 11, 1995, 41 hours before - Departed: MLS, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 789 total, 746 in this make and model, 692 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19950606030789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950606030789A), Jun 6, 1995: Cessna 150J, Miles City, MT, Substantial damage. Simulated forced landing to a road. Veered off alignment on final. CFI took over late. Wing hit. Swung into ditch. 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.