No fatalities

24 Aug 2016: CESSNA 150 F — Franklin, PA

Franklin, PA, United States

On 24 Aug 2016, a CESSNA 150 F was involved in an aviation accident near Franklin, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control resulting in a hard landing and the flight instructor's delayed action to assist the student pilot during the aborted landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, a right main and nose gear collapse, and… This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot reported losing control while aborting a gusty crosswind landing. The airplane pitched up, struck the ground, and sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor noted a high flare and inability to recover.

Accident Details

A student pilot reported that during a gusty crosswind landing, the airplane touched down and drifted off the runway to the right. The pilot added power to abort the landing but stated that "with the carburetor heat still on, and the flaps at 30 degrees and the temperature of nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside, we did not regain control." The airplane then pitched up, and the left wing struck the ground. Subsequently, the airplane was "vaulted" over to the right side of the runway and impacted terrain, resulting in a collapsed right main and nose gear.

Pilot Statements

The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot flared a little high and he thought the landing would be "just a little hard," so he allowed the student to continue. The instructor further stated that during the aborted landing, he attempted to help the student maintain control of the airplane, but "it was too late."

Weather Conditions

The automated weather observing system at the airport recorded the wind about 5 minutes before the accident as 180 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 30. About 15 minutes after the accident, the same system recorded the wind as 210 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots.

Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

Contributing factors

Causes

Student/instructed pilotInstructor/check pilotPitch control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation