ATL95LA076

While on final approach, the student pilot experienced a wind condition which caused the approach airspeed to drop to 45 mph. As the airplane touched down on the runway, it veered off the left side of the runway into the grass; the airplane collided with a ditch and nosed over. No mechanical problems were reported by the student pilot.

On April 8, 1995, at 1350 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N25502, veered off the runway during a landing attempt and collided with a dirt embankment, at the South Raleigh airport in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The training flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was not injured. The solo, cross country flight departed Greensboro, North Carolina, at 1330 hours.

The student pilot reported that, while on final approach, he experienced a wind condition which caused the airspeed to increase from 65 mph to 85 mph, and a subsequent drop in airspeed to 45 mph. During the landing on runway 16, the airplane touched down on the right main landing gear and veered off the runway. According to the operator, the airplane rolled 900 feet in the grass after departing the left side of the runway. During the students' attempts to regain control of the airplane, he applied full power, and did not retard the throttle.

According to the student, the weather briefing received before the flight departed did not forecast strong winds. After the accident, the student pilot learned that the winds were gusting to 24 knots. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.