Cessna 150K accident near Waycross, Georgia, April 27, 2009
On April 27, 2009 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6213G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Waycross, Georgia (Waycross-Ware County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during approach in gusty conditions. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's misunderstanding of the airspeed indicator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2009 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waycross, Georgia · Waycross-Ware County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6213G · no longer on the register · serial 15071713
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that the en route flight conditions of his solo cross-country flight were smooth and the arrival airport traffic pattern was normal. On final approach, a strong windshear pushed the nose of the airplane down when he was approximately 100 feet above ground level, and about 300 feet from the threshold of Runway 13. He reduced power and pulled back on the control yoke. The main landing gear impacted sandy soil prior to the runway surface, followed by the nose gear, which dug into the ground and caused the airplane to nose over. The airplane received substantial damage to both wing spars, the firewall, the left elevator, and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. He stated that the winds were 120 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported 24 hours of total flight experience, of which 7 hours were solo flight. During a postaccident interview, the pilot discovered that he referenced the wrong scale on the airspeed indicator. The outer scale indicated airspeed in mph and the inner scale indicated airspeed in knots. He referenced the outer scale, labeled as mph, which he incorrectly thought was indicating knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Landing area undershoot during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCQ Lake City FL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: AYS Waycross GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,258 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from AYS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.