# NTSB SEA99LA086: Cessna 150M, N9349U, Bellingham, WA, June 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1999, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Bellingham, WA - Coordinates: 48.789955, -122.410049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7900&lon=-122.4100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46612 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46612/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA086 ## Probable cause Compensation for wind conditions was inadequate. Gusting wind conditions was a factor. ## 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 - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ground ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while on final approach and approximately 30 feet above the runway, with the student pilot at the controls, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway edge. The flight instructor took over control of the airplane and initiated a go-around, when another gust of wind hit the airplane. The right wing tipped up and the left wing contacted the ground. The right wing then dipped down and also contacted the ground. The airplane then nosed down and came to rest next to the runway. The flight instructor reported that later he remembered that while on final approach, the wind sock on the south end of the runway was indicating the wind from 170 degrees to 190 degrees, with a wind velocity of 18 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The wind sock on the approach end however, was limp. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1999, at 1250 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N9349U, registered to a private owner and operated by Alpha Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with the ground during an attempted go-around at Bellingham International Airport, Bellingham, Washington. 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 departed from Bellingham about one hour prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the flight instructor reported that the student was practicing touch-and-go landings. The flight instructor stated that while on short final to runway 16, in gusting wind conditions, the student had the airplane lined up with the runway centerline. As the airplane descended to about 30 feet above the runway, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right side of the runway edge. The flight instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and initiated a go-around, when another gust of wind hit the airplane. The right wing tipped up and the left wing contacted the ground. The right wing then dipped down and also contacted the ground. The airplane then nosed down and came to rest next to the runway. In the written statement, the flight instructor stated that later he remembered that while on final approach, the wind sock on the south end of the runway was indicating the wind from 170 degrees to 190 degrees, with a wind velocity of 18 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The wind sock on the approach end however, was limp. The flight instructor felt that there might have been conditions indicative of wind shear. At 1253, the Bellingham Airport weather reporting facility was reporting the wind from 190 degrees at ten knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9349U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9349U-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 15078298, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078298 - Airframe hours: 9041 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alpha Aviation - Registered owner: Vinton W. Baisden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 1999, 55 hours before - Departed: BLI - Airport: BLI, Bellingham Intl., runway 16, 6,751 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 899 total, 316 in this make and model, 836 as pilot in command, 161 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BLI ## 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 19990615007099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990615007099A), Jun 15, 1999: Cessna 150M, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. Acft crashed while performing touch and go landings, other circumstances are unknown. (.4)the flight instructor reported that while on final approach and… 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.