# NTSB CEN25LA036: Cessna 152, N49785, Bridgeport, TX, November 9, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 9, 2024, 12:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, TX - Coordinates: 33, -97 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0000&lon=-97.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration, North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195465 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195465/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195465 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA036 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s delayed go-around from an unstabilized approach and failure to attain/maintain control during the go-around that resulted in an impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach: 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) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: 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 flew a cross-country flight to an airport where he performed six landings. He then flew to another airport and completed two touch and go landings before attempting a third. During approach for the third touch and go landing, the student pilot noticed the airplane was too high on the downwind to base and base to final leg turns. To reduce altitude, he increased the airplane’s descent rate to 900-1,000 ft per minute with wing flaps at 30o. He planned on reestablishing the airplane on the final approach glide path but was too late doing so. He reduced the airplane’s decent rate to 600-700 ft per minute and continued the approach. He said the airplane had a high descent rate, which he felt could result in a very firm landing. He pitched the airplane up a little too much during the landing flare, and the stall warning sounded. He then initiated a go-around out of concern that the landing would result in an unsafe and hard landing. During the go-around, the stall warning sounded again and there was a lot of drag from the wing flaps. The airplane drifted away from the runway surface due to left turning tendences and impacted the terrain. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces to the wings and fuselage. The student pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49785](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N49785), registered now, S/N 15283514, 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: 15283514 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC - Registered owner: Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 2024 - Departed: WML, Mineral Wells, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: XBP, Bridgeport Municipal Airport, runway 18, 4,004 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 2, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 72 total, 72 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: XBP ## 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 20241109022159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241109022159A), Nov 9, 2024: Cessna 152, Bridgeport, TX, Destroyed. Student pilot states he was high on base, increased rate of descent to @ 1000FPM to correct. Restabilized on final. Decided to go around too late. Applied full… ## Other investigations on N49785 (2) 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 CEN14LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA351), Jul 5, 2014: Cessna 152 (N49785), Denton, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight failure of the right wing’s rear spar. - [NTSB FTW82DPA03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DPA03), Oct 5, 1981: Cessna 152 (N49785), Mcgregor, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195465. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18134557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20docket%20master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18134179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.