# NTSB ATL85LA240: Cessna 152, N48005, Lexington, NC, August 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1985, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, NC
- Coordinates: 35.799316, -80.25048 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7993&lon=-80.2505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6849
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6849/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA240

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

STUDENT PILOT WAS ON SOLO FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT ANOTHER ACFT CALLED ON FINAL AS HE WAS ON RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF . UNSURE OF ACTION TO TAKE SINCE TAXIWAY BEHIND HIM WAS BLOCKED, HE RUSHED TAKEOFF. A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED. NOSE WAS RAISED, TAIL DRAGGED RUNWAY, STUDENT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ACFT VEERED OFF RUNWAY TO LEFT. WITNESSES REPORTED 5-7KT LEFT CROSSWIND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48005](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48005-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 15283266 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283266
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fred Smith Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Airport: EXX, Lexington, runway 26, 3,300 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °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 19850807037109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850807037109A), Aug 7, 1985: Cessna 152, Lexington, NC, Substantial damage. Over rotation and poor directional control caused swerve off side of runway into a 10 foot dropoff.

## Other investigations on N48005 (2)

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 NYC99LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA095), Apr 21, 1999: Cessna 152 (N48005), Wall, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot in command's improper preflight preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ATL81FKW25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FKW25), Aug 25, 1981: Cessna 152 (N48005), Columbia, TN, substantial damage

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.