# NTSB CEN11CA131: Cessna 152, N5437M, Bolingbrook, IL, December 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 19, 2010, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Bolingbrook, IL - Coordinates: 41.695835, -88.129165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6958&lon=-88.1292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78066/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78066 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA131 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was completing a solo cross-country flight. During landing approach at the destination airport, the student pilot applied right aileron and left rudder to compensate for the wind. While over the grass runway threshold the airplane encountered turbulence and the student pilot added engine power. The turbulence subsided and the touchdown was soft and flat. As the nosewheel touched down, the airplane swerved to the left and the student pilot overcorrected to the right. The airplane veered to the right where the nosewheel and left wing impacted a snow bank. Examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were buckled. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. The student pilot reported the wind was from 270 degrees at 8 knots. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was completing a solo cross-country flight. During the approach to runway 18, the student pilot applied right aileron and left rudder to compensate for the wind. While over the grass runway threshold, the airplane encountered "some turbulence" and the student pilot added engine power. The turbulence subsided and the "touchdown was soft and flat." As the nose wheel touched down, the airplane swerved to the left and the student pilot "overcorrected to the right." The airplane veered to the right where the nose wheel and left wing impacted a snow bank. Examination of the airplane revealed both wings were buckled. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5437M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5437M-2011-05-17), registration cancelled 2011-05-17, S/N 15284587, built 1980 (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: 15284587 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sale Reported - Registered owner: Sale Reported - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VYS, Peru, IL - Destination: 1C5, Bolingbrook, IL - Airport: 1C5, Clow International Airport, runway 18, 3,362 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 16; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F - Observed at: LOT, 5 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 20101219054709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101219054709A), Dec 19, 2010: Cessna 152, Bolingbrook, IL, Substantial damage. Purpose of flight was to complete the long cross country flight for a private pilot certificate. The student pilot flew from clow (1C5) to rockford (rfd) to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78066. 245 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 245 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.