# NTSB WPR10CA453: Cessna 150C, N2068Z, Fields, OR, September 3, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2010, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Fields, OR
- Coordinates: 42.072498, -118.596389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0725&lon=-118.5964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77255
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA453
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77255/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77255
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA453

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, resulting in a bounced landing and loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inaccurate perception of the airplane’s proximity to the ground as a result of the featureless white landing area.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was performing an off-airport landing on a dry lake bed in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During landing he flared too high and the airplane touched down hard. The airplane bounced two times and, as it began to slow, it veered to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in structural damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that he felt that his perception of his vertical position was affected by the featureless, white landing surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the tailwheel was separated due to a broken spring and remained attached to the fuselage by the tailwheel steering links. The pilot further stated that he felt that the damage to the tailwheel spring was a result of the hard landing and subsequent bounces. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or flight control systems prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during an off-field landing on a dry lake bed in a tail-wheel equipped airplane, he "rounded out too high, dropped hard," and the airplane bounced two times. As the airplane began to slow, it veered to the left despite the pilot's control inputs. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in structural damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that he felt that his perception of his vertical position was affected by the featureless, white landing surface. Post accident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the tail wheel was separated due to a "broken" spring and remained attached to the fuselage by the tail wheel steering links. The pilot further stated that he felt that the damage to the tail wheel spring was a result of the hard landing and subsequent bounces. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or flight control systems prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2068Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2068Z), registered now, S/N 15059868, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150C
- Registry model: [Cessna 150C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150c) (registry code 2071808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15059868
- Airframe hours: 6000
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thompson Jeffrey A
- Registered owner: Thompson Jeffrey A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2010, 20 hours before
- Departed: E85, Denio, NV
- Destination: Fields, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 2, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,558 total, 42 in this make and model, 1,270 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## Other investigations on N2068Z (2)

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.

- [NTSB WPR14CA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA204), May 22, 2014: Cessna 150C (N2068Z), Wellington, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while departing from a wet runway.
- [NTSB UNK64X1846](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1846), May 19, 1964: Cessna 150 (N2068Z), Walnut Grove, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77255. 261 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336795&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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