SEA97LA064

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150J · Price, UT · February 15, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 15, 1997, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
Place
Price, UT
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N5514GCessna 150J
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 30, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19970215047519A
Case key
42567

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 flight instructor's failure to ensure that the dual student maintained adequate airspeed.

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 - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Emergency procedure - simulatedPilot in command(cfi)
Go-around - initiated
Airspeed - not maintainedDual studentCause
Remedial action - delayedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Stall - inadvertentFlightcrew
In flight collision with objectEmergency landing
Object - sign
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Terrain condition - snowbank

Analysis

The flight instructor (CFI) stated that during the recovery from a simulated engine-out procedure, the student applied full power, the nose of the airplane pitched up, and the stall warning horn sounded. The CFI took control of the airplane and pushed the nose down. A few seconds later, the stall warning horn sounded again, and the airplane stalled. The CFI pushed the nose of the airplane down and began to retract the flaps to regain airspeed. When the airspeed had increased to 60-75 mph, the CFI pulled the nose of the airplane up; however, the airplane stalled again. The CFI stated that he was unsure if the airplane would recover, and opted to continue the descent to a road. Just before lining up with the road, the right horizontal stabilizer collided with a road-side reflector pole. The CFI was unable to maintain control of the airplane, which touched down and bounced sideways. The airplane then touched down again and collided with a snow bank. The CFI stated that there was some wind at altitude; however, on the surface, it was calm.

Factual narrative

On February 15, 1997, at 1245 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150J, N5514G, registered to and operated by Arrow West Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with a roadway marker and snow bank during a simulated emergency landing near Price, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight had originated from Price, Utah, about 45 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the flight instructor reported that after the student had completed practice flight maneuvers, the flight instructor pulled the throttle control to idle to simulate an engine out. The student established a best glide rate and extended 30 degrees of flaps during the descent to a road. The flight instructor stated that when the airplane was approximately 300 feet above ground level, the student applied full power to go around. The nose of the airplane pitched up and the flight instructor took control and pushed the nose of the airplane down as the stall warning horn sounded. A few seconds later, the stall horn sounded again and the airplane immediately stalled. The flight instructor stated that he pushed the nose down and began to retract the flaps to regain airspeed. When the airspeed had increased to 65-70 mph, the flight instructor then pulled the nose of the airplane up to regain lost altitude, however, the airplane stalled again. The flight instructor stated that he was unsure if the airplane would recover, and opted to continue the descent to the road. Just prior to the airplane lining up on the road, the right horizontal stabilizer collided with a road-side reflector pole. The flight instructor was unable to maintain control of the airplane, which touched down and bounced sideways. The airplane then touched down again and collided with a snow bank near the road, damaging the left wing and collapsing the nose gear.

The flight instructor stated that there was some wind at altitude, however, on the surface it was calm.

Aircraft

Registration
N5514G
Reported as
Cessna 150J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15071014
Airframe hours
6,720
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Arrow West Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 4, 1996 · 21 hours before
Departed
PUC · UT

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
24
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
850 total · 600 in this make and model · 750 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
6,000 ft broken
Temperature
39 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
PVU, 60 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.