ATL95LA146

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152A · Sanford, FL · August 1, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 31, 1995, 20:10 local (Aug 1, 1995, 00:10 UTC)
Place
Sanford, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N7348BCessna 152A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report November 6, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950731020929A
Case key
3604

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff portion of a touch and go landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

The student pilot was conducting a touch & go landing. After touchdown, the airplane began turning left. The pilot said he applied right rudder, then prepared for takeoff. When he applied power, the airplane veered off of the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over.

Factual narrative

On July 31, 1995, about 2010 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N7348B, collided with a ditch adjacent to runway 9R, at the Central Florida Regional Airport, Sanford, Florida, during the takeoff portion of a touch and go landing. The airplane was operated by A.T.A. Sales & Leasing, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the solo, instructional flight. There were no injuries to the student pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight originated about ten minutes prior to the accident.

According to the air traffic local controller, the airplane was observed on final approach, then after touch down, operating normally. The controller looked away at other traffic. When he returned his attention to N7348B, the airplane had departed the runway to the left and collided with a ditch. An FAA inspector from the Orlando Flight Standards District Office reported that marks on the runway indicated that the airplane veered off of the runway during the takeoff roll.

The pilot reported that the landing was successful. The airplane began veering to the right, which the pilot attempted to counter with right rudder. He stated that he then "prepared the airplane for takeoff." When full throttle was applied, "...it felt like the plane bit hard left." The airplane then collided with a ditch and nosed over.

Aircraft

Registration
N7348B
Reported as
Cessna 152A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
A1520753
Airframe hours
5,420
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Aviation Training Associates
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 14, 1995 · 21 hours before
Departed
SFB
Airport
SFB · Sanford, runway 9R, 3,578 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
21
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
22 total · 22 in this make and model · 3 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
50° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SFB, 1 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.