NTSB GAA18CA235 — 2018-02-11 · Statesville, North Carolina, United States

Current FAA registration · N23398

Make / Model: CESSNA 150H
Year of manufacture: 1968 · 50 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES (100 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19680523
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A21759

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N23398 Cessna 150 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain crosswind correction during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s and flight instructor’s decision to land with gusting tailwinds.

Factual narrative

The pilot-receiving-instruction's attorney reported that, while performing routine pattern work, during landing, the airplane encountered turbulence and wind gusts. He added that, a strong gust of wind blew the right wing up, which pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest partially off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The attorney reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 10. The pilot receiving instruction's attorney reported that the pilot was performing routine pattern work; during landing, the airplane encountered turbulence and wind gusts. He added that, a strong gust of wind blew the right wing up, which pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest partially off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The attorney reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 10. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Crosswind correction-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Student/instructed pilot - F
F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Instructor/check pilot - F
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Decision related to condition
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Decision related to condition
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Decision related to condition

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA235.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (turbulence). All research papers