# NTSB FTW98LA199: Cessna 152, N25525, Fort Collins, CO, April 30, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 1998, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.410167, -105.070602 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4102&lon=-105.0706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20589/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA199 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper use of the rudder controls, which resulted in loss of directional control, a ground swerve, an encounter with soft terrain, and a nose over. The soft terrain 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, takeoff - roll/run - rudder - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis During the takeoff roll on her first solo flight, the 20 hour (total flight time) student pilot applied left rudder when the aircraft started to drift left. The aircraft departed the left side of the 100 foot wide runway and entered soft terrain where it nosed over. The runway heading was 330 degrees magnetic, and the wind at the time was from 300 degrees magnetic heading at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 1998, at 0745 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N25525, nosed over after departing the side of the runway during takeoff roll at Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport, Fort Collins, Colorado. The student pilot and sole occupant was not injured and the aircraft received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this student solo instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was departing when the accident occurred. According to information provided by the pilot and verified by her instructor, this was the initial takeoff roll on her first solo flight. In her written statement, the student pilot said she was lined up on the runway for her takeoff with the nose pointed slightly left. When she added power for takeoff, the aircraft started toward the left side of the runway and she applied left rudder to correct her heading instead of right rudder. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway onto soft terrain and nosed over. The student said she "froze up." Her recorded flight time was 20.1 hours total time, all of which was accumulated in the Cessna 152 aircraft. The takeoff was being conducted on runway 33 which is 8,500 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. The weather was clear skies and the wind recorded by AWOS (automatic weather observation system), was from 300 degrees magnetic at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25525](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25525), registered now, S/N 15280716, 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: 15280716 - Airframe hours: 4514 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Colorado Contrails - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 1997, 83 hours before - Departed: FNL - Airport: FNL, Fort Collins/Loveland, runway 33, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 1 nm away ## 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 19980430014319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980430014319A), Apr 30, 1998: Cessna 152, Fort Collins, CO, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on takeoff roll. Departed runway. Froze. Nosed over. (.4)during the takeoff roll on her first solo flight, the 20 hour (total 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.