# NTSB ATL94LA168: Cessna 152, N64903, Headland, AL, August 31, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1994, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Headland, AL
- Coordinates: 31.349533, -85.340675 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3495&lon=-85.3407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3442/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA168

## Probable cause

The failure of the student pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during a crosswind landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - other
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A CROSSWIND LANDING. DURING FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY BUT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT  STRUCK A BAIL OF HAY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.

## Factual narrative

On August 31, 1994 about 1630 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N64903, was substantially damaged, following a collision with a hay bale, during a landing attempt on runway 27, at the Headland Municipal Airport, Headland, Alabama. The student pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the Dothan Jet Center of Dothan, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local training flight. The flight departed Dothan, Alabama, about 1420.

The student pilot stated that he was attempting to practice crosswind landings on runway 09. On final approach to the runway, the aircraft drifted off to the left side. He landed on the nose wheel, and the aircraft bounced. He then lost control of the aircraft. It exited the runway to the left, and hit a hay bale and the terrain, prior to coming to a stop.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64903](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64903-2002-05-21), registration cancelled 2002-05-21, S/N 15285282 (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: 15285282
- Airframe hours: 4201
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-12C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dothan Jet Center
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 9, 1994, 18 hours before
- Departed: DHN, DOTHAN, AL
- Destination: 0J6, AL
- Airport: 0J6, Headland Municipal, runway 9, 4,200 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DHN, 25 nm away

## 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 19940831024909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940831024909A), Aug 31, 1994: Cessna 152, Headland, AL, Substantial damage. On crosswind landing practice drifted off side of runway and struck a hay bale. Had landed on nose wheel. Bounced.

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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