# NTSB ATL98LA058: Cessna 152, N49551, La Belle, FL, March 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1998, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: La Belle, FL - Coordinates: 26.640897, -81.33966 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6409&lon=-81.3397&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 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3980 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3980/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA058 ## Probable cause the student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. The gusty crosswind condition was a related factor. ## 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 (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve ## Analysis The student pilot stated that while landing on runway 14, a wind gust hit the airplane and forced it off the runway. The airplane received substantial damage. After a formal interview, an FAA inspector stated that the student pilot did not execute proper crosswind landing techniques. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 1998, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N49551, sustained substantial damage during landing, at the La Belle Municipal Airport, La Belle, Florida. The airplane was operated by the student pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for the solo cross-country flight. The student pilot and sole occupant was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Palm Beach County Airport, for the purpose of a student cross country flight with a stop in Okeechobee, then in LaBelle, returning to Palm Beach. Departure time at Palm Beach is unknown, the aircraft departed Okeechobee at 1645 eastern standard time. According to the student pilot, while making a crosswind landing on runway 14, a wind gust hit the aircraft forcing it nose left, he lost control of the airplane and ran off the left side of the runway into a ditch. The aircraft's nose gear collapsed, and the propeller and left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot also noted that the carpeting had rolled up in front of the rudder pedals. According to the FAA, after a formal interview with the student pilot, the inspector stated that the student did not execute proper crosswind landing technique's. This resulted in a loss of control on the landing roll. According to the FAA inspector, the carpeting that had allegedly rolled up in front of the rudder pedals was determined not to be a factor in the accident. The FAA stated that the student pilot would need to re-qualify with his flight instructor on proper procedures for cross country flight and crosswind landing techniques. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49551](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N49551), registered now, S/N 15283474, built 1979 (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: 15283474 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ramon N. Llera - Registered owner: William B Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OBE, OKEECHOBEE, FL - Destination: X14, LABELLE, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: X14, Labelle, runway 14, 3,810 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 31 total, 29 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIA, 100 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 19980315016049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980315016049A), Mar 15, 1998: Cessna 152, La Belle, FL, Substantial damage. Solo cross country. Lost control landing in crosswind. Exited runway into aditch. (-23) student pilot attempted to land with crosswind conditions. Lost… 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.