Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150G near Pontiac, IL — 2015-01-09

Final reportCEN15LA114
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Date
2015-01-09
Location
Pontiac, IL, USA
Airport
PNT
Aircraft
CESSNA 150G
Registration
N2871S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Go-around

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s loss of directional control during an attempted go-around with a crosswind. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during examination of the engine.

NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was attempting to land the airplane but conducted an attempted go-around. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane. The student pilot reported that, as the flight instructor was attempting the second landing, the airplane bounced, at which time, the flight instructor initiated a go-around. The flight instructor reported that the engine then began to sputter and that, when he turned off the carburetor heat, the engine quit as the airplane was about 5 ft above the ground. He further stated that a right crosswind pushed the airplane to the left and that he subsequently attempted to land the airplane in a field left of the runway; however, the landing gear sunk into the snow, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. Examination of the airplane, engine, and carburetor revealed no anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. Based on the available information, it is likely that the flight instructor lost directional control during the attempted go-around, which resulted in an off-runway landing and a subsequent nose-over.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
The flight instructor could have aborted the go-around earlier.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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