# Accident 20011031031409A: Cessna 152, Elberton, GA, October 31, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 31, 2001, 13:50 local time
- Place: Elberton, GA
- Airport: Elbert County-Patz Field Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0996° N, 82.8603° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0996&lon=-82.8603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N93550, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93550) (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
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011031031409A

## Narrative

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

(-23) STUDENT DEPARTED GWINNETT COUNTY - BRISCOE FIELD, (LZU) AT 1230 LOCAL AND ARRIVED VICINITY OF ELBERTON AIRPORT (27A) AROUND 1310 LOCAL ON THE FIRST LEG OF HER FIRST SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. AFTER ABOUT ONE (1) HOUR OF SEARCHING THE 27A APPROXIMATE AREA, SHE COULD NOT FIND THE AIRPORT AND DECIDED TO LAND OFF AIRPORT IN A FARM FIELD, ABOUT 5 MILES FROM 27A, IN ORDER TO REORIENT BEFORE CONTINUING. IT WAS A PLOWED FIELD WITH SOFT SHALLOW FURROWS AND A DIRT BERM NEAR THE MIDDLE. THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE GEAR STRUCK THE SOFT DIRT BERM AFTER 300 FEET ROLLOUT, WHICH BROKE THE NOSE GEAR FROM ITS MOUNTS, AFTER WHICH THE LEFT WING TIP HIT THE GROUND CAUSING WING TIP DAMAGE AND MAJOR COMPONENT DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING'S REAR SPAR. FAILURE OF THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY TRACK SOLO TIMES AND ALLOW FOR LOCAL SOLO PRACTICE PRIOR TO THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY PHASE AND HIS FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROPER NAVIGATION, ORIENTATION, AND LOST PROCEDURES WERE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE INCORRECT DECISIONS MADE BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND TO THE RESULTING ACCIDENT.

## 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 ATL02LA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA014), Oct 31, 2001: Cessna 152 (N93550), Elberton, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's in-flight decision to land in a field, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a berm. Factors were the student's inadequate training and inadequate supervision by the…

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.

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