# NTSB DEN85LA051: Cessna 152, N48738, Fargo, ND, December 29, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1984, 16:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Fargo, ND
- Coordinates: 46.870685, -96.810401 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8707&lon=-96.8104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16616/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA051

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway marking - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - ditch
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE SOLO STUDENT PLT, THE LANDING WAS MADE IN A SNOW FILLED DITCH APRX 5 FT RIGHT OF THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT AND HIS CFI STATED THAT RWY MARKINGS WERE INADEQUATE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48738](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48738-1995-10-03), registration cancelled 1995-10-03, S/N 15280946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 919
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gary Sternitzky
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: FARGO, ND
- Airport: West Fargo, runway 35, 4,500 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 21 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -6 °F

## 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 19841229068909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841229068909A), Dec 29, 1984: Cessna 152, Fargo, ND, Destroyed. Student landed in a snow filled ditch parallel to the snow covered sod runway. Lacked adequate runway markings.

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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