FTW00LA011

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Lake Village, AR · October 15, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 15, 1999, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Lake Village, AR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N66930Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 21, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19991015043849A
Case key
47628

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain directional control during landing.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Landing gear,normal brake system - engaged
Directional control - not obtained/maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

During the landing phase of flight, the student pilot had the brakes engaged. The airplane exited the runway environment and encountered a drainage ditch. The nose landing gear descended into the drainage ditch, and the aircraft nosed over to the inverted position.

Factual narrative

On October 15, 1999, at 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N66930, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at the Lake Village Municipal Airport, near Lake Village, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by Legacy Aviation, of Monroe, Louisiana. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo cross country flight, for which a VFR flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from Monroe, Louisiana, and had made an intermediate stop at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that during the full flap landing, when the airplane touched down, it "twisted sharply to the left." Application of the brakes did not prevent the airplane from departing the runway into the grass. The airplane struck a ditch and nosed over. The pilot reported calm wind and clear skies with a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the accident.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the site, reported that the student pilot landed with the brakes engaged. The aircraft touched down left wheel first, veered to the left and subsequently exited the runway environment. The aircraft continued for approximately 300 yards where it impacted a drainage ditch and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The student pilot had received the proper endorsements for the flight. The wing spars were bent and portions of the fuselage were crushed. The top of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged.

Aircraft

Registration
N66930
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15281667
Airframe hours
4,434
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Legacy Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · January 11, 1999 · 80 hours before
Departed
TVR · Vicksburg, MS
Destination
M32
Airport
M32 · Lake Village Municipal, runway 19, 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
34
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
35 total · 19 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.