# NTSB ANC22LA026: Cessna 152, N915AA, Anchorage, AK, March 28, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2022, 16:47 local (Mar 28, 2022, 00:47 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.215831, -149.84193 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2158&lon=-149.8419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104853 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104853/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104853 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA026 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the student pilot which resulted in an impact with terrain and a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while on final approach to land, he noticed that the student pilot had allowed the airplane’s airspeed to decay. In an effort to correct for the decaying airspeed he assumed control and pitched the airplane down to no avail. The airplane impacted short of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N915AA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N915AA), registered now, S/N 15280359, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15280359 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field Airport - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 509 total, 78 in this make and model, 407 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 49.5 total, 42.1 in this make and model, 0.7 as pilot in command, 18.9 in the last 90 days, 10.1 in the last 30 days, 1.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: PAMR - METAR: PAMR 280053Z 32004KT 10SM BKN060 OVC070 03/M04 A2971 RMK AO2 SLP063 T00281039 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220327004349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220327004349A), Mar 27, 2022: Cessna 152, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. On March 27, 2022 student pilot and flight instructor were scheduled for approach and departure procedures at merrill field (mri). Prior to instructor pilot… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104853. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14467237&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - student pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 496 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14467403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%206120%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement - student pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14467938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (unknown source) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14468003&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.