# NTSB BFO90LA010: Cessna 152, N96096, Front Royal, VA, November 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1989, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Front Royal, VA
- Coordinates: 38.920673, -78.179298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9207&lon=-78.1793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11568/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA010

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE STUDENT PILOT'S HIGH AND FAST APPROACH, THE CFI'S DELAY IN INITIATING REMEDIAL ACTION, THE CROSSWIND, AND THE RUNWAYLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, dual student (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) RPRTD THE STUDENT WAS HIGH & FAST ON FINAL APCH, SO HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, REDUCED POWER & CORRECTED FOR A X-WIND. HE RPRTD THAT A GUST OF WIND DRIFTED THE ACFT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY. HE APPLIED POWER & LEFT RUDDER TO CORRECT THE SITUATION; HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTACTED A RWY LIGHT & CROSSED OVER THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE & WAS DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96096](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96096), registered now, S/N 15286007, built 1985 (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: 15286007
- Airframe hours: 1281
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Randolf Macon Academy
- Registered owner: Randolph Macon Academy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 30, 1989, 9 hours before
- Destination: FRR
- Airport: FRR, Warren County, runway 27, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 467 total, 296 in this make and model, 405 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRB, 31 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 19891114045939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891114045939A), Nov 14, 1989: Cessna 152, Front Royal, VA, Substantial damage. Student high and fast on approach. CFI took over late. 152 drifted. Hit lights. Impacted nose low trying recover.

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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