# NTSB DEN87LA198: Cessna 152, N52MA, Watkins, CO, July 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1987, 07:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.749904, -104.600914 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7499&lon=-104.6009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17283
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17283/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA198

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,landing capability - exceeded (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS ON RWY 26. HE ESTIMATED THE WIND TO BE 180 DEG AT 8 KTS. THE PLT SAID THAT ON THE THIRD LANDING ATTEMPT, A 15 KT GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE ACFT TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH LEFT AILERON AND RIGHT RUDDER. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, DRAGGING THE RIGHT WING TIP AND NOSING OVER. THE PLT NOTED THAT THE CROSSWIND GUST EXCEEDED ACFT CROSSWIND CAPABILITY. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT HANDBOOK, THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND VELOCITY IS 12 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52MA-2003-03-27), registration cancelled 2003-03-27, S/N 152-83231 (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: 15283231
- Airframe hours: 2270
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gerry T. Himes
- Registered owner: Gerry T Himes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1987
- Airport: 1W1, Front Range, runway 26, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 171 total, 83 in this make and model, 116 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19870725044939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870725044939A), Jul 25, 1987: Cessna 152, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. The aircraft veered off the side of the runway. Gusty crosswinds exceeded the demonstrated capability of aircraft.

## Other investigations on N52MA (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 FTW96LA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA225), May 23, 1996: Cessna 152 (N52MA), Bridgeport, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's improper preflight by failing to ensure the mixture control was properly set before takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff (while there was sufficient runway remaining).

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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