# Accident 20080401014029A: Cessna 152, San Diego/El C, CA, April 1, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 2008, 14:47 local time
- Place: San Diego/El C, CA
- Airport: Gillespie Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: CLWS
- Location: 32.8261° N, 116.9725° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9725&mi=10
- Aircraft: N64938, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64938-2010-03-09) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080401014029A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE REMEMBERED BOUNCING OFF OF THE NOSE GEAR ONCE BEFORE IMPACTING NOSE FIRST ONTO THE RUNWAY. MARKS ON THE RUNWAY INDICATED A STEEP ANGLE OF IMPACT WHICH CAUSED THE NOSE WHEEL FORK TO SNAP OFF OF THE STRUT TUBE. THE PROPELLER STRIKE MARK WAS OBSERVED A FEW FEET TO THE RIGHT OF WHERE THE NOSE STRUT TUBE HAD GOUGED A HOLE IN THE SURFACE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ON ITS NOSE APPROXIMATELY 140 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT HAD COME TO A STOP, IT WAS ON FIRE AND CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE ENTIRE CENTER SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS MELTED OR COMPLETELY CHARRED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY BURN INJURIES. HE DID SUSTAIN A CUT ON ONE HAND AND A MINOR INJURY TO HIS LEFT KNEE, BUT IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THOSE INJURIES OCCURRED WHILE EXITING THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 LAX08CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA090), Apr 1, 2008: Cessna 152 (N64938), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty, crosswind conditions, and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed.

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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