# NTSB IAD97LA105: Cessna 152, N89242, Plymouth, MA, August 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 1997, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MA - Location: 41.9088° N, 70.7276° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PLYMOUTH MUNI (PYM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9088&lon=-70.7276&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28220 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28220/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA105 ## Probable cause Inadequate compensation for wind conditions by the pilot. A related factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The student pilot departed the area to practice maneuvers. On his return, the winds had increased, and he performed a go-around during his first approach. During his second approach to land on runway 33, the airplane touched down hard, bounced, veered off the right side of the runway, and nosed over. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 13 knots, with gusts to 22 knots. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine, and that he used runway 33 as that was the only open runway. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 1997, at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89242, was substantially damaged when it touched down hard at the Plymouth Municipal Airport, Plymouth, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight. A flight plan was not filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot said he was on a local, solo flight. He left the area for about 20 minutes to practice ground reference maneuvers. On his departure, the wind velocity was about 4 knots. However, on his return, the reported winds were from 270 degrees at 13 knots, with gusts to 22 knots, so he performed a go-around. During his second approach to land on runway 33, the only open runway, the airplane touched down hard, bounced, veered to the right, and nosed over. According to the Chief Flight Instructor, soon after the pilot departed, the winds increased from the southwest. He said that the southwest runway was closed for construction, and he became concerned about several solo flights that had been dispatched earlier, so he called the pilots over the Unicom frequency for them to return. By that time, the maximum wind, maximum gusts, and crosswind limitations were above the pilot's capability. The pilot had over 33 hours of total flight experience, including 25 hours in make and model. He reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89242](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89242-1998-02-13), registration cancelled 1998-02-13, S/N 15282686 (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: 15282686 - Airframe hours: 7300 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hyldburg Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 4, 1997, 100 hours before - Departed: PYM, MA - Airport: PYM, Plymouth Municipal, runway 33, 2,501 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 32 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PYM ## 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 19970802020549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970802020549A), Aug 2, 1997: Cessna 152, Plymouth, MA, Substantial damage. Landing with strong crosswind, attempted go around, aircraft slow and wingtip struck the runway. Nosed over to right (-23) N89242 (CE-152) landing runway 33 at… 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.