WPR11LA195

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · Corona, CA · April 12, 2011

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 12, 2011, 08:53 local (15:53 UTC)
Place
Corona, CA
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N11630Cessna 150L
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 20, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20110412006749A
Case key
78837

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

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during the landing flare.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 150L: 26 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 150L: 6 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot stated that he was practicing a touch-and-go landing and that he pulled up the controls during the landing flare because the airplane was high. He then realized that the airplane was about to stall and added power. The airplane turned left about 45 degrees, bounced once in the adjacent grass, and crossed a taxiway. The airplane subsequently impacted a hangar and the airplane’s engine section to the firewall went through the closed hangar door. Both wings and the cabin area of the fuselage were badly bent and wrinkled. Postaccident examination of the engine, airframe, and flight controls revealed no deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On April 12, 2011, at 0853 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N11630, sustained substantial damage following a loss of aircraft control and impact with a hangar door at Corona Municipal Airport (AJO), Corona, California. The private pilot received minor injuries and his passenger received serious injuries. Fly Corona was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported that he was practicing a touch-and-go landing and was high, so he “pulled up on the controls.” He realized the airplane was about to stall and added power. The airplane turned left about 45 degrees, bounced once in the adjacent grass, and crossed a taxiway. The airplane subsequently impacted a hangar. The airplane’s engine section back to the firewall went through the closed hangar door. Both wings and the cabin area of the fuselage were badly bent and wrinkled. Postaccident examination of the engine, airframe, and flight controls was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. No deficiencies were noted that would have precluded normal airplane operation. The flaps were in the full down position at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N11630
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15075584
Airframe hours
7,984
Engine
Cont Motor O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Fly Corona
Registered owner
Bedrock Investments LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · March 4, 2011
Departed
AJO · Corona, CA
Destination
AJO · Corona, CA
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
AJO · Corona Municipal Airport, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 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
29
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 25, 2011
Seat
Left
Flight hours
80 total · 15 in this make and model · 23 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
CNO, 5 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 936 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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