# NTSB CEN23LA100: Cessna 152, N5442B, Denton, TX, February 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 5, 2023, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.20513, -97.200315 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2051&lon=-97.2003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - North Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 106683 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106683/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106683 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA100 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go 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; 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) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot; 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. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was performing landings during her second solo flight. On her third touch-and-go landing, while looking down to ensure that the flaps were retracted and carburetor heat was off, she advanced the throttle to full, and the airplane began to veer to the left. The student pilot attempted to correct but was unable to regain control of the airplane before it departed the runway. The airplane entered muddy terrain, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wings. The student pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5442B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5442B), registered now, S/N 15283870, built 1979 (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: 15283870 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 18347 - Engines: Lycoming 0-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: US Aviation Group LLC, doing business as US Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 13, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise, runway 18R, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 41.1 total, 41.1 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 39.5 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KDTO - METAR: METAR KDTO 051753Z 18004KT 10SM CLR 15/08 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP216 T01500078 10150 20017 58008 ## 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 20230205002829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230205002829A), Feb 5, 2023: Cessna 152, Denton, TX, Destroyed. During the takeoff roll from a touch and go landing, loss of directional control occurred as the pilot looked down to verify configuration of the aircraft.… ## Other investigations on N5442B (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA97LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA133), Apr 10, 1997: Cessna 152 (N5442B), La Crosse, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain a visual look out on landing rollout resulting in an on-ground collision with a berm/furrow, and subsequent nose over. Contributing to the accident was the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106683. 4.2 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15086147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15085193&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20J.%20Mathews_Redacted-Rel.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.