# NTSB BFO89LA007: Cessna 152, N93031, Leesburg, VA, November 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1988, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, VA
- Location: 39.1028° N, 77.5545° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leesburg, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1028&lon=-77.5545&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11482
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11482/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA007

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, dual student (cause)
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) MADE A NORMAL APCH AT 60 KIAS WITH 30 DEGS OF FLAPS. WHEN APRX 100 TO 200 FT AGL, THE ACFT BEGAN TO DESCEND BELOW THE DESIRED GLIDEPATH. THE STUDENT ADDED POWER AND INCREASED PITCH ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND THE AIRSPEED DECREASED TO 40 KIAS. THE CFI SAID HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT AS IT BEGAN TO STALL AND LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED; HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. IT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N93031 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285380
- Airframe hours: 1338
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Steven Leckey, doing business as Professional Pilot Services
- Registered owner: Lawrence A. Bennett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 1988, 94 hours before
- Airport: W09, Leesburg, runway 17, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,025 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 2,559 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 9 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 19881108050489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881108050489A), Nov 8, 1988: Cessna 152, Leesburg, VA, Substantial damage. Too slow on final until a wing stalled and dropped. Check pilot took over but aircraft hit runway nose and wing low

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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