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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 8, 1995 · Cessna 150E · N3992U

West Addison, VT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 8, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
West Addison, VT
Aircraft
Cessna 150E
Tail Number
N3992U
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC95LA186

THE PILOT FLEW TO AN AIRPORT WITH A TURF RUNWAY, WITH WHICH HE WAS FAMILIAR. DUE TO DETERIORATING RUNWAY CONDITIONS FROM RECENT RAINS, THE LOCAL PILOTS WERE LANDING TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH UNICOM, AND MADE TWO LOW PASSES OVER THE RUNWAY TO VISUALLY CHECK THE SURFACE. HE CONTINUED WITH THE APPROACH AND LANDED, TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. DURING ROLL-OUT THE NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED A SOFT AREA, AND DUG IN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN, AND CAME UP ON ITS NOSE, AND THEN FELL OFF ON THE RIGHT WING.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor is a soft landing area.

Full Narrative

On August 8, 1995, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N3992U, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at West Addison, Vermont. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight originated in Shelbourne, Vermont, about 1015. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: Maintaining currency with soft-field landing and take offs, I flew from Plattsburgh to Shelburne and proceeded to West Addison, a field with which I was familiar. I was unable to get anyone to respond to radio communications at West Addison, but I carefully surveyed landing strip twice from the air, flying low along its entire length, once north, then south. I observed another plane near strip, wind sock & many people. I executed a soft-field landing, and landed normally. Taxiing along runway to a point at which I could exit, however, the nose wheel caught a muddy pothole.... The FAA reported that the runway at West Addison was 3,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and had a turf surface, which was wet and muddy due to recent rains. Local pilots were aware of the runway condition, and landed to the side of the runway. The accident pilot was familiar with the airport, but not the condition of the landing surface. He elected to land on the side of the runway. Due to the more visible deterioration at the northern end of the field, the pilot landed from south to north, with a light tailwind. During ground roll, the nose wheel encountered a soft spot and dug into the landing surface. The airplane nosed down, fell on it's right wing, and bent the spar.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 EDT
Nearest AirportWest Addison (0nm)
Runway36
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150E
Tail NumberN3992U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 4 kt
Visibility80 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data