Cessna 150A accident near Factoryville, Pennsylvania, April 2, 2011
On April 2, 2011 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150A, registered N7225X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Factoryville, Pennsylvania (Seamans Field). 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 pilot's inadequate flare during the gusty crosswind landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2011 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Factoryville, Pennsylvania · Seamans Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150A · all 150As on the register
- Registration
- N7225X · no longer on the register · serial 15059325
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he approached runway 4 once and performed a go-around due to the wind conditions. The second approach to the runway was higher than usual; therefore, the pilot increased the rate of descent in order to land in the crosswind and gusting wind conditions. The airplane impacted the runway and bounced, veered off the side of the runway, and came to rest in the reverse direction of travel. The accident sequence resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The wind reported at an airport 15 miles south of the accident location, about the time of the accident, was from 330 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 16 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cessna N7225X LLC
The flight
- Departed from: AVP Scranton PA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 9N3 Factoryville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from AVP, 15 miles away
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.