Cessna 150 accident near Erie, Pennsylvania, September 22, 2024
On September 22, 2024 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 150, registered N61232, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Erie, Pennsylvania (Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Fld airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 2024 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Pennsylvania · Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 J, built 1969 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N61232 · registry record · serial 15070905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported the purpose of the flight was to train the student pilot on landings and go-arounds. After completing one touch-and-go landing and two go-arounds without incident, the flight instructor recounted that the student pilot flew the airplane through the traffic pattern and final approach leg at the appropriate speeds, altitudes, and descent rates. During the landing, the student pilot flared high and the airplane subsequently impacted the runway hard and flat. This led to a short bounce resulting in the airplane touching down a second time in a side-loaded and nose-down attitude. Upon the second touchdown the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the runway resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and lower fuselage. The flight instructor did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 317 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command; 65 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 28, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 15.4 hours in all; 15.4 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5.9 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,467.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 2024; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-200-A (piston); 5,489 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 8,420 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 am from ERI
Weather report (METAR): KERI 221251Z 17004KT 10SM CLR 19/17 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP142 T01890167
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Right wing and nose wheel damage
Photograph 2 – Right wing impact damage
Photograph 3 – Right wing impact damage buckling
Photograph 3 – Lower fuselage impact damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.