# NTSB LAX06CA181: Cessna 152, N6136B, Buckeye, AZ, May 24, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 24, 2006, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Buckeye, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.423053, -112.688056
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4231&lon=-112.6881&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA181

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The pilot lost directional control after touchdown and the conventional gear conversion airplane ground looped.  The pilot said he was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in calm wind conditions to familiarize himself with the conventional gear airplane.  After completing several wheel landings he began practicing three-point landings.  He stated that upon touchdown he lost control of the airplane and it ground looped.  The right main landing gear broke as a result of the ground loop and the airplane skidded to a stop.  The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

## Factual narrative

On May 24, 2006, about 0730 mountain standard time, a conventional gear Cessna 152, N6136B, ground looped on landing at Buckeye Municipal Airport, Buckeye, Arizona.  The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The local personal flight departed Buckeye Municipal Airport about 0630.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot submitted a written report in which he said that he was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings to familiarize himself with the conventional gear conversion airplane.  He also indicated that he was flying early in the morning due to the calm wind conditions.  After completing several wheel landings he began practicing three-point landings.  He said that upon touchdown he lost control of the airplane and it ground looped.  The right main landing gear broke as a result of the ground loop and the airplane skidded to a stop.

The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6136B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283905
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BXK, Buckeye, AZ
- Destination: BXK, Buckeye, AZ
- Airport: KBXK, Buckeye Municipal Airport, runway 17, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total, 12 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: GYR

## 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 20060524010059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060524010059A), May 24, 2006: Cessna 152, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Cessna 152 N6136B with two (2) persons on board was conducting proficiency landings at Buckeye Municipal Airport (bxk), Buckeye, Arizona. On the fifth…

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.