NTSB CEN11CA644 — 2011-09-12 · Camden, Arkansas, United States

Current FAA registration · N89954

Make / Model: CESSNA 120
Year of manufacture: 1946 · 65 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19551031
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AC69E7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N89954 Cessna 120 None

Probable cause & findings

The flight instructor's inadvertent braking during taxi.

Factual narrative

While taxiing the tail-wheel equipped airplane after landing, the flight instructor was demonstrating to the student some taxi techniques. During the demonstration, the flight instructor inadvertently applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed. The flight instructor reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. While taxiing the tailwheel-equipped airplane after landing, the flight instructor was demonstrating to the student some taxi techniques. During the demonstration, the flight instructor inadvertently applied the brakes, causing the airplane to nose over. Postaccident examination of the airplane indicated that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed. The flight instructor reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Instructor/check pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_CEN11CA644.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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