# NTSB GAA19CA413: Cessna 152, N5096L, Clewiston, FL, June 23, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2019, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Clewiston, FL - Coordinates: 26.735277, -81.051109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7353&lon=-81.0511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA413 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99843/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99843 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA413 ## Probable cause The student pilot's maneuver to the left to avoid striking birds during takeoff and his subsequent loss of directional control after aborting the takeoff and landing on soft, muddy grass adjacent to the runway during, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during takeoff, a flock of birds crossed the runway from the right. He tried to climb and turn the airplane to the left to avoid striking the birds, but some of the birds continued in front of the airplane. The airplane drifted beyond the left side of the runway about 10 to 15 ft above ground level. He aborted the takeoff, landed on the soft grass adjacent to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The student added that, "the grass was so muddy that [it was] very hard to control the plane," and "too much friction made my airplane flip over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during takeoff, a flock of birds crossed the runway from the right. He tried to climb and turn the airplane to the left to avoid striking the birds, but some of the birds continued in front of the airplane. The airplane drifted beyond the left side of the runway 10 to 15 feet above the grass. He aborted the takeoff, landed on the soft grass adjacent to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The student pilot further reported that, "the grass was so muddy that [it was] very hard to control the plane," and "too much friction made my airplane flip over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5096L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5096L), registered now, S/N 15284262, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 (No Series) - 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: 15284262 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 11651.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: American Flight Training, doing business as Wayman Aviation Academy - Registered owner: My Way Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 10, 2019 - Departed: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Destination: 2IS, Clewiston, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 2IS, Airglades, runway 13, 5,901 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 59.7 total, 59.7 in this make and model, 6.5 as pilot in command, 29.1 in the last 90 days, 9.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KOBE, 34 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 20190623007899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190623007899A), Jun 23, 2019: Cessna 152, Clewiston, FL, Substantial damage. While on departure roll at the 2IS airport, the airman spotted a bird flying from right to left and reacted by running off the runway and into the grass,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99843. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airport Operations Statement (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Operations%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.