# NTSB FTW95LA268: Cessna 152, N757VK, Farmington, NM, July 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1995, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NM - Coordinates: 36.749771, -108.179946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7498&lon=-108.1799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19475/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA268 ## Probable cause THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN HER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT SHE WAS EXECUTING A NORMAL CROSSWIND LANDING ON RUNWAY 23, WHEN A 'GUST' OF WIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO 'BALLOON' AND VEER TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT SIGN/MARKER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ATIS INFORMATION REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM 290 DEGREES AT 20 GUSTING 30 KNOTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT AT 1347, THE WIND WAS FROM 310 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 58.8 HOURS. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1995, approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757VK, was substantially damaged during landing at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane, owned by the pilot's flight instructor pilot, Shanna M. Clark, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The instructional cross country flight originated at Gallup, New Mexico, and was returning to Farmington. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The student pilot reported that, she was executing a "normal cross wind landing" to runway 23, when a "gust" of wind caused the airplane to "balloon" and veer left during the landing roll. Subsequently, she lost directional control and the aircraft came to rest on the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the fuselage. According to the pilot, the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) reported the winds to be from 290 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 30. The pilot's total flight time at the time of the accident was 58.8 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757VK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757VK-2023-01-16), registration cancelled 2023-01-16, S/N 15280036, built 1977 (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: 15280036 - Airframe hours: 5151 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shanna M. Clark - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 1995, 99 hours before - Departed: GUP, GALLUP, NM - Destination: FMN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FMN, Four Corners Regional, runway 23, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FMN ## 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 19950704016159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950704016159A), Jul 4, 1995: Cessna 152, Farmington, NM, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing in severe crosswind. Crosswind componet exceeded. CFI negligent allowing flight. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.