- Date
- July 26, 1999, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Superior, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N68268Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990726011129A
- Case key
- 47002
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty wind condition, the student's lack of experience, and the soft terrain encountered.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student pilot made three touch and go landings on runway 31 with a flight instructor prior to the instructor exiting the airplane. The student then completed four solo touch and go landings during which he began to 'encounter heavier winds.' Following the fifth landing, as he applied power to initiate another takeoff, a gust of wind caught the airplane and it veered to the right. He reported that he applied left rudder and the airplane turned abruptly to the left. The airplane continued off the runway where it contacted soft terrain and nosed over. The winds reported at 12 miles northwest of the airport, 5 minutes prior to the accident, were from 320 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The student pilot had a total of 17 hours of flight experience.
Factual narrative
On July 26, 1999, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68268, nosed over following a loss of directional control during the takeoff portion of a touch and go landing at the Bong Airport, Superior, Wisconsin. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated at approximately 1645 cdt.
The student pilot reported that he completed three touch and go landings with a flight instructor prior to the instructor exiting the airplane. He stated he then completed four solo touch and go
landings during which he began to "encounter heavier winds." He reported that following the fifth landing, as he applied power to initiate another takeoff, a gust of wind caught the airplane and it veered to the right. He reported he applied left rudder and the airplane turned abruptly to the left. The airplane continued off the runway where it contacted soft terrain and nosed over.
The winds reported at Duluth, Minnesota, 12 miles northwest of the Bong Airport, 5 minutes prior to the accident, were from 320 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N68268
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15282220
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Twin Ports Flying Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SUW
- Airport
- SUW · Bong, runway 31, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 19
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 17 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DLH, 12 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.