# NTSB FTW89LA071: Cessna 152, N45940, Fort Worth, TX, March 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1989, 18:13 local (Mar 27, 1989, 00:13 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Location: 32.8198° N, 97.3624° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FORT WORTH MEACHAM INTL (FTW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8198&lon=-97.3624&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22849
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22849/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA071

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, WHO AUTHORIZED THE 2ND SOLO FLIGHT IN UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, THE CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, THE RAVINE (DITCH), AND THE TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - supervision - improper, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45940](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45940-1989-06-20), registration cancelled 1989-06-20, S/N 15282951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282951
- Airframe hours: 5422
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pegasus Flight Center
- Registered owner: Aero Plane Shop, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 10, 1989, 67 hours before
- Departed: FTW
- Destination: FTW
- Airport: FTW, Meacham, runway 16R, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW

## 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 19890326004559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890326004559A), Mar 26, 1989: Cessna 152, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Bounced landing, lost control, left the runway, struck culvert and trees.

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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