# Accident 20000515006729A: Cessna 152, Borrego Springs, CA, May 15, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 15, 2000, 13:00 local time - Place: Borrego Springs, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.1695° N, 116.2692° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1695&lon=-116.2692&mi=10 - Aircraft: N25213, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25213-2001-12-10) (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 - Reported engine: LYC O235L2C - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 188 total, 30 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA194) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000515006729A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON PUBLIC ROAD FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ACCESSING PRIVATE PROPERTY. AFTER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL FORBID HIM FROM DEPARTING FROM THE PUBLIC ROAD, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART FROM ADJACENT PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE UNIMPROVED DEPARTURE AREA WAS 30 FEET BY 1700 FEET OF SOFT DESERT FLOOR. THE AIRCRAFT ACHIEVED LIFTOFF, BUT THEN STRUCK A PALM TREE ON THE DEPARTURE END IN GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PROJECTED DEPARTURE PATH, INVERTED, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE SOLE OCCUPANT WAS UNINJURED. (.4) ON MAY 15, 2000, ABOUT 1300 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 152, N25213, OWNED AND OPERATED BY BERMUDA AIR SERVICE, INC., COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF THE UNCONTROLLED BORREGO VALLEY AIRPORT, BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT THAT WAS PERFORMED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, AND THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP. ACCORDING TO RESPONDING SHERIFF'S OFFICERS , EARLIER DURING THE DAY THE PILOT HAD MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED LANDING ON A PUBLIC ROAD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY LANDED ON THE ROAD AS IT WAS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR HIS BUSINESS. THE OFFICERS REPORTED THAT FOR SAFETY AND OTHER REASONS, THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE PILOT TO DEPART FROM THE ROAD. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR THAT, IN RESPONSE TO INFORMATION CONVEYED BY THE OFFICERS, HE MOVED THE RENTED AIRPLANE INTO AN ADJACENT OPEN DIRT FIELD, WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS ADEQUATE FOR HIS DEPARTURE. THE PILOT OWNED THE FIELD, AND AFTER TAKING OFF HE PLANNED TO FLY TO THE BORREGO VALLEY AIRPORT. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT ALL AIRPLANE SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY, AND HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF WITH THE WING FLAPS EXTENDED TO THE 10-DEGREE POSITION. SECONDS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, A 5- TO 15-KNOT WIND GUST PUSHED HIM SLIGHTLY OFF COURSE. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE "FAILED TO CORRECT FOR THE CROSSWIND, ALLOWING THE PLANE TO DRIFT RIGHT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET . . . " THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN THE FIELD. ## 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 LAX00LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA194), May 15, 2000: Cessna 152 (N25213), Borrego Springs, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition during initial takeoff climb, which resulted a failure to maintain alignment and the airplane drifting into a nearby tree. ## Other reports on N25213 (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19900710032582I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900710032582I), Jul 10, 1990: Cessna 152 (N25213), Bermuda Dunes, CA, Minor damage. Struck departing NR2668F while entering traffic pattern. Saw aircraft and began evasive maneuvers. Landed safely. 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.