# NTSB ANC89LA015: Cessna 152, N48943, Nenana, AK, November 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1988, 18:48 local (22:48 UTC)
- Place: Nenana, AK
- Coordinates: 64.470703, -148.569564 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.4707&lon=-148.5696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5145
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5145/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA015

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS DEMONSTRATING A SOFT-FIELD LANDING TO HIS STUDENT PILOT WHEN HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE TOO HIGH, AND ALLOWED THE CROSSWIND TO CARRY THE AIRPLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT HIT A RUNWAY LIGHT AND A SNOW BERM, THEN NOSED OVER. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT "IT WAS A SIMPLE CASE OF PILOT ERROR".

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48943](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48943-2013-09-20), registration cancelled 2013-09-20, S/N 15283391, built 1979 (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: 15283391
- Airframe hours: 3157
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eielson Afb Aero Club
- Registered owner: William H Cleveland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 1988, 66 hours before
- Departed: EIL, EIELSON AFB, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ENN, Nenana, runway 3, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,427 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,288 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19881108051509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881108051509A), Nov 8, 1988: Cessna 152, Nenana, AK, Substantial damage. Allowed aircraft to drift off runway alignment on flare. Hit runway lights and a snow berm. Nosed over.

## Other investigations on N48943 (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 DEN05LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA023), Nov 14, 2004: Cessna 152 (N48943), Lyons, CO, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision by his intentional VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

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.

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