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NTSB Report

August 23, 1993 · Cessna A150M · N9861J

Sacramento, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 23, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Sacramento, CA
Aircraft
Cessna A150M
Tail Number
N9861J
Operator
American Aero Club
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX93LA334

THE DUAL NONCERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE STUDENT APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL, RUDDER AND BRAKES, TO STOP THE AIRPLANE. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, BUT THE DUAL STUDENT WOULD NOT RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE SOFT TERRAIN, COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR, AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND FAILURE TO RELINQUISH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE CFI. THE SOFT DIRT WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

On August 23, 1993, at 1115 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A150M, N9861J, exited runway 16 at Natomas Field, Sacramento, California, and nosed over. The pilots were conducting a local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, registered to Sacramento Aero Services, Inc., and operated by American Aero Club, Inc., Natomas, California, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor (CFI) nor the noncertificated student pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Natomas Field at 0945 hours. Neither the CFI nor the operator informed the Safety Board of this accident. An anonymous person informed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Sacramento Flight Standards District Office of this accident on August 26, 1993. A FAA flight standards inspector examined the airplane and determined that the airplane had sustained structural damage. Both the CFI and the operator submitted an unsigned Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. The CFI reported that after completing airwork at the practice area the flight returned to Natomas Field for traffic pattern instruction. On the first approach the CFI instructed the student to execute a go-around. The student satisfactorily completed the go-around and re-entered the traffic pattern for a second approach to a landing. During the landing roll the student pilot began to instinctively control the airplane as if he was driving an automobile by stepping on the right rudder pedal to slow the airplane. This action caused the airplane to veer to the right. The student panicked during the sudden departure from the centerline. The CFI advised the student that he assumed the controls, but the student froze on the controls and continued to operate the controls as if he were driving an automobile to arrest the right excursion. The CFI was unable to regain control of the airplane. The airplane exited the asphalt surface runway and entered the soft dirt. The airplane continued its landing roll until the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over onto its back.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:15 PDT
Nearest AirportNatomas Field (0nm)
Runway16
Runway Length2700 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A150M
Tail NumberN9861J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAmerican Aero Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data