# NTSB CHI96LA098: Cessna 152, N6325Q, Jacksonville, IL, February 24, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1996, 14:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, IL
- Coordinates: 39.719207, -90.229957 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7192&lon=-90.2300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10201/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA098

## Probable cause

Failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. A factor relating to the accident was: the crosswind condition.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The student pilot was on his first solo cross-country flight when the accident occurred. A landing was being made on runway 31 with local winds from 210 to 240 degrees at 10 to 15 knots. According to the pilot, the airplane touched down in a crab angle and traveled off the side of the runway where it nosed over in the grass.

## Factual narrative

On February 24, 1996, at 1425 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N6325Q, operated by St. Charles Flying Service, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and nose over during landing at the Jacksonville Municipal Airport, Jacksonville, Illinois.  The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions under a VFR flight plan.  The student pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.  The flight originated from St. Charles, Missouri, at 1326 cst.

The student pilot was on his first solo cross country flight when the accident occurred.  He stated he aborted his first landing approach because he was not properly aligned with the runway.  The pilot stated that during the second landing he was still in a crab angle during the flare.  He reported, "...I felt the airplane begin to skid on me as I tried to straighten it out, I panicked as I felt that I lost control of the airplane."  The airplane traveled off the side of the runway where it nosed over.  The landing was being made on runway 31 (5,000' x 75').  The pilot reported that the local winds were form 210 to 240 degrees at 10 to 15 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6325Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6325Q-2007-11-01), registration cancelled 2007-11-01, S/N 15285231 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285231
- Airframe hours: 7886
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: St. Charles Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 19, 1996
- Departed: 3SQ, ST CHARLES, MO
- Destination: IJX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: IJX, Jacksonville Municipal, runway 31, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPI, 30 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 19960224002729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960224002729A), Feb 24, 1996: Cessna 152, Jacksonville, IL, Substantial damage. First solo cross country. Lost control landing in crosswind. Nosed over. Wind exceeded 152 crosswind component. (-23) on February 24, 1996 a student pilot was…

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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