Pilot Debrief

Cessna 150G near Grand Rapids, MN — 2008-07-25

Final reportCHI08CA221
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Date
2008-07-25
Location
Grand Rapids, MN, USA
Aircraft
Cessna 150G
Registration
N8668J
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident were the crosswind and wind gusts.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the landing approach to the runway 34, he was unable to obtain weather information from the airport's automated weather observing system (AWOS) because it was inoperative. The pilot then attempted a landing without checking "current conditions." During the landing, the airplane moved towards the right side of the runway and ground looped, which the pilot attributed to a left gusting crosswind. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the flaps were fully extended. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included crushing of the left wing, bending of the horizontal stabilizer, and wrinkling of the fuselage forward of the empennage and below the aft cabin window. The pilot stated that he should have flown a low pass over the runway to check "current conditions." One of two windsocks at the airport was located about 1,000 feet down the runway. The airport's AWOS was operating at the time of the accident and recorded wind at 1735 from 290 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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