# NTSB BFO95LA091: Cessna 152, N68969, Martinsburg, WV, August 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1995, 15:44 local (19:44 UTC) - Place: Martinsburg, WV - Coordinates: 39.350605, -77.839576 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3506&lon=-77.8396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9079/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA091 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing/aborted landing sequence. A related factor is the student pilot's lack of total flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aborted - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - tree(s) ## Analysis DURING A SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED TWICE AND BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT OF CENTERLINE. THE STUDENT PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND AND ADDED FULL POWER. AT THIS TIME, THE LEFT DRIFT INCREASED AND THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ON THE ROUGH TERRAIN, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT AIRBORNE. HE PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND BEGAN TO BRAKE HEAVILY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 100 FEET LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1995, at 1544 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68969, sustained substantial damage during an aborted landing attempt at Eastern West Virginia Regional/Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, West Virginia. The student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The local solo instructional flight originated from Eastern West Virginia Regional/Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, West Virginia, at 1500. The student pilot departed the class "D" airspace for a local solo training flight. Upon return, the student pilot requested touch and go landings. On the second landing attempt, the airplane bounced twice and the student pilot decided to go around. The student pilot stated that the airplane had already begun to drift left and as full power was added, the left drift increased rapidly. After the airplane veered off the runway, it began to bounce on the rough terrain. The pilot stated that in the excitement of the moment he forgot to push the carburetor heat knob in ("off" position) and to raise the flaps to the full up position. When the pilot realized that he was not airborne, he pulled the throttle to idle and began to brake heavily. The airplane impacted a tree located 100 feet left of the runway and abeam the 2000 foot remaining marker. During an interview with the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the student pilot stated that the engine and flight controls responded normally the entire flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68969](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68969-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N 15282419, built 1978 (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: 15282419 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Newbold - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MRB - Airport: MRB, Eastern West Virginia Reg, runway 26, 7,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 39 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MRB ## 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 19950830027059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950830027059A), Aug 30, 1995: Cessna 152, Martinsburg, WV, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing. Ran off runway. Tried go around carb heat on full flaps. Aborted struck a tree. 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.