Cessna 150K accident near Gainesville, Florida, March 4, 1992
On March 4, 1992 at about 5:16 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N40SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Florida (Gainesville Regional 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 IMPROPER IN FLIGHT DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO LAND WITH AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AND AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN ON GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL (PORPOISE OF THE AIRPLANE), COLLISION WITH TERRAIN AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1992 · about 5:16 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainesville Regional · 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
- N40SA · registry record · serial 15071448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A VFR SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT THAT HE CONDUCTED A TIGHT APPROACH TO THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE APPROACH WAS STEEP AND FAST. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND PORPOISED TWO TIMES ON THE NOSE WHEEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED, 'I LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, NOSED OVER, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,645 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1992; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crystal Aero Group INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X-31 Crystal River FL at 4:44 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,147 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:21 pm from GNV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.