# NTSB ATL05CA097: Cessna 152, N5527M, Fort Payne, AL, June 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 15, 2005, 23:20 local (Jun 16, 2005, 04:20 UTC) - Place: Fort Payne, AL - Coordinates: 34.478332, -85.724441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4783&lon=-85.7244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61708/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA097 ## Probable cause The intentional unauthorized use of a stolen aircraft by an unqualified person which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - intentional, unqualified person (contributing factor) - lack of experience, unqualified person (cause) - flare - improper, unqualified person (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the police, the 14 year old boy had never flown an airplane before. He stated to the police that he wanted to go flying. He went to the airport and found an airplane with the keys in it. He flew for a few minutes and landed, then took off again. On the second flight, he flew a few minutes longer and and attempted to land again. This time he landed hard and the airplane veered to the left. He stated that he added power in an attempt to go-around and the airplane crashed on a road nose down and slid about 40-feet.The 14-year old boy was arrested and charged with the theft of an airplane and was being held in juvenile detention pending a formal hearing. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2005, at 2320 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5527M, registered to Valley Aviation Inc. collided with the ground during an attempted landing at the Fort Payne Isbell Field Airport, in Fort Payne, Alabama. The 14 year old non-certificated pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Fort Payne Isbell Field, Fort Payne, Alabama at 2300. According to the police, the 14 year old boy had never flown an airplane before but told the police that he wanted to go flying. He went to the airport and found an airplane with the keys in it. He flew for a few minutes and landed, then took off again. On the second flight, he flew a few minutes longer and attempted to land again. This time he landed hard and the airplane veered to the left. He stated that he added power in an attempt to go-around and the airplane crashed on a road in a nose down attitude and slid about 40-feet. Examination of the airplane found the propeller separated, and the airplane resting about four feet from a telephone pole in a nose down attitude, with the nose gear folded back under the engine. Further examination found the left main wheel assembly torn from its axel, and the empennage rivets on the right side sheared off with only the left side remaining attached. Both wings sustained leading edge damage with wrinkling observed in the wing skin. The 14-year old boy was arrested and charged with the theft of an airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5527M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5527M-2006-04-18), registration cancelled 2006-04-18, S/N 15284603, built 1980 (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: 15284603 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Valley Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 4A9, Fort Payne, AL - Destination: 4A9, Fort Payne, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 14; injuries: none; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: 4A9 ## 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 20050615015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050615015429A), Jun 15, 2005: Cessna 152, Fort Payne, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The uncertificated pilot landed on runway 04. The aircraft bounced and on the second touch down the aircraft jerked to the left heading towards a fence.… ## Other investigations on N5527M (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 ATL95LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA089), Apr 25, 1995: Cessna 152 (N5527M), Fort Payne, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE INAEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS. FACTORS WERE THE RADIO RECEPTION DIFFICULTIES OF THE 152 PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO MAKE POSITION REPORTS WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A LANDING, AND THE FAILURE OF… 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.