# Accident 19980801019299A: Cessna 152, Culpeper, VA, August 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 1998, 14:10 local time
- Place: Culpeper, VA
- Airport: Culpeper Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.4695° N, 78.0006° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4695&lon=-78.0006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N89074, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89074-2008-06-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980801019299A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON AUGUST 1, 1998, AT 1410 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME A CESSNA 152, N89074, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT THE CULPEPER COUNTY AIRPORT, CULPEPER, VIRGINIA. THE CERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL, INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AS HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 4, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO YAW LEFT. HE SAID THE THROTTLE WAS AT FULL POWER AND HE CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE GRASS, STRUCK A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED OVER THIRTY HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE INCLUDING 17 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL AND 7 HOURS SOLO FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRPLANE OR THE ENGINE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION INDICATED APPROXIMATELY 120 FEET OF TREAD MARKS ON THE RUNWAY OF THE RIGHT AND NOSE GEAR EXTENDING FROM THE CENTER LINE OF THE RUNWAY TO THE EDGE. THE TRAIL CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY 600 MORE FEET INTO GRASSY AREAS WITH NO SKID MARKS UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN A RAVINE. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. PROPELLER DAMAGE AND DISTURBED GROUND AT THE RESTING SPOT INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF NOSEOVER. THE ELT DID ACTIVATE AND WAS DISCONNECTED BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, THE WWINDSHIELD, AND TO THE ENGINE MOUNT STRUCTURE/FIRE WALL AREA. THERE WAS MINIMAL FUEL SPILL AND THE INTERIOR WAS INTACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD98LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA088), Aug 1, 1998: Cessna 152 (N89074), Culpeper, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. A related factor was wind gusts.

## Other reports on N89074 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19880229011889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880229011889I), Feb 29, 1988: Cessna 152 (N89074), Richmond, VA, Minor damage. Student pilot lost control on practice pattern work. Veered off runway into soft dirt and ditch.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.