- Date
- July 1, 2016, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Augusta, ME
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4916BCessna 152G
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA / FSDO
- FAA report
- 20160701012879A
- Case key
- 93905
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 pilot's failure to compensate for the gusting wind conditions during a short-field landing and the designated pilot examiner's delayed remedial action, which resulted in the wing tip contacting the runway during the go-around.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was taking his private pilot checkride and was demonstrating a short-field landing. During the landing, the wind was gusting, and he decided to go around. During the go-around, the left wing dropped and struck the runway. The designated pilot examiner (DPE) took control of the airplane and completed the go-around. He then returned control of the airplane to the pilot, and the pilot then performed another short-field landing with a full stop. After the full-stop landing, he taxied to the fixed-base operator (FBO) at the airport, and he and the DPE exited the airplane and went into the FBO to complete the paperwork for the check ride. After the DPE had completed the paperwork, the pilot returned to the airplane intending to fly back to his home airport. During his preflight inspection, he noticed that the wing was damaged. Examination of the wing revealed that both wing spars were substantially damaged.
Factual narrative
The pilot was taking his private pilot checkride, and was demonstrating a short field landing. During the landing the wind was gusty and he decided to go around. During the go-around, the left wing dropped and struck the runway. The Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) took control of the airplane and completed the go-around. He then returned control of the airplane to the pilot, and the pilot then performed another short field landing with a full stop. After the full stop landing, he taxied to the fixed base operator (FBO) at the airport, and he and the DPE exited the aircraft and went into the FBO to complete the paperwork for the check ride. After the DPE had completed the paperwork, the pilot returned to the airplane with the intent to fly back to his home airport. During his preflight inspection he noticed that the wing was damaged. Examination of the damage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wing spars were substantially damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4916B
- Reported as
- Cessna 152G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15283704
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 13,498.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- University Flying Club
- Registered owner
- University Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 4, 2016
- Departed
- AUG · Augusta, ME
- Destination
- AUG · Augusta, ME
- Airport
- AUG · Augusta State, runway 17, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 99 total · 98 in this make and model · 26 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Check pilot
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 27, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 16,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- AUG
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4916B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.