Cessna 150 N66430

Summary

On 23 April 2000 at about 15:50 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N66430 was involved in an accident near Lancaster, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 April 2000 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Lancaster, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Fairfield County (LHQ)

Coordinates

39.7556, -82.6569

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N66430

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00LA120

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane over the maximum gross weight and his improper landing flare.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot experienced decreasing airspeed during takeoff climb, and he elected to return to land. The aircraft landed hard, bounced, and nosed over. According to the pilot he lifted off at 70 mph about 1,000 feet down the runway. The pilot reported the climb rate was 200 feet per minute. About 3,500 feet from the lift off point, he felt he had insufficient engine power to continue the departure. The pilot added that the engine noise remained constant from takeoff, but the airspeed was decreasing. He also added that when he was 1,000 feet above the ground, he noticed that the power available was less than what was needed for the departure. The pilot was then asked why he did not return and land on the runway, if he was at 1,000 feet agl with an operating engine. He had no response. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft. According to a witness, the airplane became airborne about halfway down the runway; reached an altitude of 10 to 20 feet; and then descended to 5 feet and outside his view behind hangars. The aircraft reappeared about 20 feet above the runway, and he watched it start another descent. The witness heard the pilot declare an emergency over UNICOM, and saw the airplane execute a 180-degree turn. He then watched the airplane contacted the ground, bounce back into the air 20 to 30 feet, and contact the ground a second time before nosing over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.