# NTSB WPR21LA005: Cessna 150, N22979, Rimrock, AZ, October 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2020, 19:15 local (Oct 5, 2020, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Rimrock, AZ - Coordinates: 34.650856, -111.7882 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6509&lon=-111.7882&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102090/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102090 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Navigation system: airspeed/mach indicating](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023414/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a flight in dark night conditions, and with an unreliable airspeed indicator, he flew the airplane in reference to engine rpm and the vertical speed indicator. Upon reaching his destination airport he activated the airport-controlled lighting, and while preparing to land, and sensing that he was high on final approach, he selected full flaps and reduced power. Upon reaching the runway threshold and feeling that he was at the proper height above the surface, he reduced the power to idle. Then, as he flew past “the numbers” he increased pitch, flared slightly too early and struck the runway surface firmly and too fast. The airplane subsequently bounced, returned to the runway, then veered rapidly to the right and off the side of the runway about 800 ft beyond the threshold before coming to a stop upright. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22979](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22979-2022-10-05), registration cancelled 2022-10-05, S/N 15068655, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (H) - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15058655 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 6914 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 2019, 13 hours before - Departed: P52, Cottonwood, AZ - Destination: 48AZ, Rimrock, AZ - Airport: 48AZ, Rimrock Airport, runway 5, 2,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,218 total, 209 in this make and model, 2,158 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 87 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: P52, 15 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20201004012239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201004012239A), Oct 4, 2020: Cessna 150H, Rimrock, AZ, Substantial damage. After fueling, PIC departed cottonwood municipal airport (P52) at 1902 MST destined for Rimrock Airport (48AZ) in twilight conditions. While en-route, PIC… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102090. 16.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 15.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11504330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-operator%20accident%20report%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array of damage to airplane (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12414828&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20of%20airplane%20damage-Rel.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. --- 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.