# NTSB BFO87LA040: Cessna 152, N25448, Fredericksburg, VA, May 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1987, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Fredericksburg, VA
- Coordinates: 38.290172, -77.480186 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2902&lon=-77.4802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11322
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11322/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87LA040

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - false indication (cause)
  - maintenance,modification - improper, company/operator management (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CFI STATED THAT DRG TKOF, THE ACFT ACCELERATED SLOWER THAN NORMAL. AFTER ROLLING ABT 1800', THE STUDENT ROTATED THE ACFT TO A NORMAL CLIMB ATTITUDE & IT CLIMBED APRX 5' TO 10'. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE CFI NOTED THAT THE AIRSPEED INDCN HAD DROPPED TO ABT 40 KTS & THE ACFT BEGAN TO DSCND. HE THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS & ABORTED THE TKOF WITH ABOUT 700' TO 800' OF RWY REMAINING. HE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THE ACFT SKIDDED OFF THE RGT SIDE OF THE RWY AT THE DEP END & HIT A CONCRETE PAD CONTAINING RWY END/THRESHOLD LIGHTS. THE TEMP WAS 90 DEG & THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 2250'. THE CFI EXPECTEDA LONGER THAN NORMAL TKOF ROLL, BUT AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE, HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE INDCD AIRSPEED HAD DROPPED. RPRTDLY, THE OWNER HAD INSTALLED A MOVABLE COVER ON THE PITOT TUBE TO KEEP INSECTS OUT, WHICH COULD BLOCK ITS OPENING DRG HI ANGLE OF ATTACK OPNS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25448](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25448-1989-02-06), registration cancelled 1989-02-06, S/N 15280668 (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: 15280668
- Airframe hours: 1639
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hanover Aviation Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 1986, 78 hours before
- Airport: W07, Shannon, runway 23, 3,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 334 total, 75 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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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