# NTSB WPR21LA150: Cessna 150L, N1390Q, Marana, AZ, March 26, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 26, 2021, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Marana, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.509833, -111.32533 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5098&lon=-111.3253&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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102833
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102833/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102833
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA150

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper flare which resulted in a bounced, hard landing and loss of control in a gusting crosswind.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, he was landing the airplane with a gusting right crosswind. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and landed hard. The nose wheel and propeller impacted the ground. The engine truss was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccidentt mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1390Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15072690
- Year built: 1971
- Airframe hours: 5294.2
- Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Yang Feng
- Registered owner: Yang Feng
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2020, 52 hours before
- Departed: MZJ, Marana, AZ
- Destination: KAVQ, Marana, AZ
- Airport: MZJ, Pinal Airpark, runway 12, 6,849 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 26.6 in the last 90 days, 9.7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: MZJ

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102833. 25.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (student pilot) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 22.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12245348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Student%20Pilot%20150_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (owner) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12246348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Owner%206120%20150_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 877 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12158549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20150-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.

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