Cessna 150 accident near Rimrock, Arizona, October 5, 2020
On October 5, 2020 at about 2:15 am local time, a 1968 Cessna 150, registered N22979, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Rimrock, Arizona (Rimrock 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 pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2020 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Rimrock, Arizona · Rimrock Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 H, built 1968 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N22979 · no longer on the register · serial 15058655
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a flight in dark night conditions, and with an unreliable airspeed indicator, he flew the airplane in reference to engine rpm and the vertical speed indicator. Upon reaching his destination airport he activated the airport-controlled lighting, and while preparing to land, and sensing that he was high on final approach, he selected full flaps and reduced power. Upon reaching the runway threshold and feeling that he was at the proper height above the surface, he reduced the power to idle. Then, as he flew past “the numbers” he increased pitch, flared slightly too early and struck the runway surface firmly and too fast. The airplane subsequently bounced, returned to the runway, then veered rapidly to the right and off the side of the runway about 800 ft beyond the threshold before coming to a stop upright. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › Airspeed/mach indicating › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,218 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 2019; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-200A (piston); 5,797 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P52 Cottonwood AZ at 1:57 am
- Destination: 48AZ Rimrock AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 87°F (31°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from P52, 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 30, 2021. 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 | Photo Array of Damage to Airplane | PDF, 2 pages | 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.