MILES CITY, MT, USA
N51146
CESSNA 150J
DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT WAS PRACTICING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD. AT 150 FEET AGL, THE PILOTS FELT A BUMP AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE STUDENT CORRECTED TO THE LEFT TO REALIGN WITH THE ROAD. WITH FULL FLAPS EXTENDED, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO ADD FULL POWER. THE STUDENT ADDED FULL POWER AND TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OFF AT 50 FEET AGL, WHEN ANOTHER BUMP WAS FELT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A RAPID DESCENT AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SWUNG AROUND AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH NOSE FIRST. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
On June 6, 1995, at 0745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N51146, collided with a ditch next to a dirt road located 35 miles northwest of Miles City, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight had originated from Miles City. In a written statement, the flight instructor reported that the student was practicing a forced landing to a dirt road. An approach was set up using 10 degrees, then 20 degrees of flaps. At 150 feet AGL, the flight instructor stated that they felt a "bump" and the airplane drifted to the right of the road. The student corrected with a shallow turn back to the left to realign with the road. At 100 feet AGL the student extended full flaps. The flight instructor then told the student to apply full power. The student applied full power and turned the carburetor heat off. The airplane leveled off at approximately 50 feet AGL and another "bump" was felt. The flight instructor took over when the airplane began a rapid descent to the right and the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane swung around and collided nose first into a ditch next to the road. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Factors to the accident were: The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the downdraft.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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