N3700VCessna 150M · 1975

On September 3, 2012, about 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N3700V, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Toledo State Airport (5S4), Toledo, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from Newport, Oregon, at 0930 with an intended destination of 5S4.

The 94-year old pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that following normal approach and landing on runway 31, a 1,750-foot long and 40-foot wide asphalt runway, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot said that he attempted to apply left rudder, however, the rudder pedal would not move. Subsequently, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck a hangar. The pilot further reported to the inspector that he reduced the throttle before landing, and did not advance the throttle prior to impact with the hangar.

Witnesses located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the accident airplane enter a normal final approach for runway 31. One witness stated that the airplane “landed hard and fast” about 100 feet from the runway threshold, and started going to the right. Another witness stated that the airplane touched down fast near the approach end of the runway, bounced 5 to 8 feet in the air, begin to wobble, and touch back down. The witness said that the airplane traveled about 100 feet along the runway when it violently veered to the right. The witness added that the engine noise got louder just before the airplane exited the runway, and did not decrease until the airplane came to rest in a ditch.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector and a representative from Cessna Aircraft Company revealed that both wings and the fuselage were structurally damaged. Examination of the airplanes flight controls, brake system, nose wheel steering system, and engine throttle control revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.