SEA97LA042

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150K · Helena, MT · January 4, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 4, 1997, 10:58 local (17:58 UTC)
Place
Helena, MT
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N5935GCessna 150K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 25, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19970104000209A
Case key
42550

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in command
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - snowbank

Analysis

The pilot reported that the flight was cleared for landing on runway 27. The flare was a little high, however, the pilot continued the landing and touched down without difficulty. The pilot stated that during the landing roll-out, she remembered that she needed to complete a touch-and-go requirement and applied power to go-around. The pilot stated that the airplane began to veer to the left and she tried to correct with right rudder control. The pilot was unable to regain directional control and the airplane continued off the left side of the runway and collided with a snow bank.

Factual narrative

On January 4, 1997, at 1058 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150K, N5935G, operated by Butte Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with a snow bank during a touch-and-go landing at the Helena Airport, Helena, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight had originated from Butte, Montana, approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to complete the last cross-country flight requirement before the private pilot check ride. The pilot stated that she was cleared to land on runway 27. The pilot stated that the flare for touch down was high, however, the landing was continued without difficulty. After the airplane touched down and was on the roll out, the pilot remembered that she needed to complete a touch-and-go requirement. The pilot stated that she applied power to go-around and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot tried to correct with right rudder control, however, the pilot was unable to regain control and the airplane continued to the left side of the runway and collided with a snow bank.

Aircraft

Registration
N5935G
Reported as
Cessna 150K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15071435
Airframe hours
4,336
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Butte Aviation
Registered owner
Highes, Eugene F.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 1996 · 44 hours before
Departed
BTM · Butte, MT
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
HLN · Helena Regional, runway 27, 9,000 × 150 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
Age
53
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
117 total · 93 in this make and model · 20 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
230° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
36 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
HLN

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.