Cessna 150M accident near Wellington, Kansas, May 17, 2015
On May 17, 2015 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 150M, registered N8634U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Wellington, Kansas (Wellington Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 improper flare and loss of control 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
- May 17, 2015 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wellington, Kansas · Wellington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M M, built 1976 · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8634U · registry record · serial 15077964
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that about 6 inches off the ground he initiated a go-around and the airplane yawed to the left. He stated that he landed nose wheel first "hard" off the runway, the airplane slide forward and the airplane's nose wheel impacted the edge of the concrete taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 6,950 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 71K Wichita KS at 4:30 pm
- Destination: EGT Wellington KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,201 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from KIAB, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 30, 2015. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Student Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.