# NTSB LAX01LA028: Cessna 152, N5447L, Ramona, CA, October 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 2000, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 32.789588, -116.959838 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7896&lon=-116.9598&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50560 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50560/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA028 ## Probable cause The dual student's habit interference, from his previous training in a different type of airplane, that precipitated his improper use of the elevator control during a go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - aborted - elevator - improper use of, dual student (cause) - habit interference, dual student (cause) ## Analysis The instructor ordered the student to go-around and the student pushed forward on the control wheel with his left hand and pulled back on the throttle with his right hand. The airplane struck the runway in a nose down attitude resulting in substantial damage. The student's approach had been "high and fast" and they were at 7 feet agl and 70 knots at midfield. The student pilot was a retired military pilot with about 4,000 hours of experience flying military fighter airplanes. The accident occurred on the student's third flight in an airplane with a control wheel. In the accident airplane, the left-seated pilot typically manipulates the control wheel with the left hand and the throttle with the right hand. In most military fighter airplanes, the throttle is manipulated with the left hand and the stick is manipulated with the right hand. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2000, about 1330 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5447L, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Ramona, California. Pinnacle Aviation Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The instructional flight departed McClellan-Palomar airport, Carlsbad, California, about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the operator, the flight instructor and student pilot were practicing a touch-and-go at Ramona after practicing steep turns and unusual attitude recoveries earlier in the flight. The flight instructor stated that the student's approach was "high and fast," and that at midfield they were at 7 feet agl and 70 knots. The instructor ordered the student to go-around and the student pushed forward on the control wheel with his left hand and pulled back on the throttle with his right hand. The airplane struck the runway in a nose down attitude, causing damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, lower cowling, engine mount, and firewall. According to the operator, the student pilot is a retired Naval Aviator with about 4,000 hours of experience flying military jet airplanes. The accident occurred on the student's third flight in an airplane with a control wheel. In the accident airplane, the left-seated pilot typically manipulates the control wheel with the left hand and the throttle with the right hand. In most military fighter airplanes, the throttle is manipulated with the left hand and the stick is manipulated with the right hand. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5447L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5447L), registered now, S/N 15284317, built 1980 (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: 15284317 - Airframe hours: 4814 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pinnacle Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Pinnacle Aviation Services, In - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 2000, 70 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: RNM - Airport: RNM, Ramona, runway 27, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 263 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 163 °F, dew point 115 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNM ## 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 20001025015699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001025015699A), Oct 25, 2000: Cessna 152, Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) During the student pilot's first touch and go attempt on romana rwy 27, the a/c was high and fast (approx. 80 knots) with flaps at zero. The student… ## Other investigations on N5447L (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR26LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA332), Sep 4, 2026: Cessna 152 (N5447L), Carlsbad, CA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing 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.