This March 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 150.
Location: Sand Springs, Okla.
Injuries: None.
Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The 2,000-hour private pilot did not have a valid medical certificate at the time of the flight. He told investigators that he was not able to move the seat of the Cessna to the forward position he preferred, but took off anyway. When the airplane reached an altitude of 1,000 feet the pilot decided to return to the airport for landing.
While attempting to land on the 5,800- x 100-foot asphalt runway he lost control of the Cessna. The nose wheel touched down first and the airplane bounced into the air. When the airplane came down the second time the nose gear collapsed. The C-150 came to rest on the left side of the runway.
During the post-accident investigation it was discovered that the pilot had been denied a medical certificate in September 2006 because of a heart condition. The pilot admitted to both the FAA and NTSB investigators that he should not have attempted to fly the airplane.
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
The Wright Bros. couldn’t pass their physicals today either. That is the kind of sense your article makes!
Full agreement with Joh H’s post!
What does no medical certificate have to do with the accident? Does not sound contributory to the accident. Sounds more like a lack of proficiency and had nothing to do with lack of a medical. Not good for our industry to headline something that is not even relavent to the story and will only hurt general aviation and in particular the light sport industry.