# NTSB LAX88LA099: Cessna 152, N4914H, El Toro, CA, January 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 26, 1988, 16:50 local (Jan 27, 1988, 00:50 UTC)
- Place: El Toro, CA
- Location: 33.6470° N, 117.6837° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Toro, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6470&lon=-117.6837&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25945/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA099

## Sequence of events

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

- Vortex turbulence encountered, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS & WAS CLEARED FOR AN APCH BEHIND A C-130. HE STATED THAT HE NOTED THE TOUCHDOWN POINT OF THE C-130 & PLANNED HIS APCH TO REMAIN ABOVE THE C-130'S FLT PATH. HOWEVER, JUST BEFORE LANDING, WHEN THE ACFT WAS AT ABOUT 10' AGL, IT ENCTRD WAKE TURBULANCE FROM THE C-130. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT LANDED HARD & THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. FIRE ERUPTED, BUT IT WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY FIRE/RESCUE PERSONNEL. AN EXAM OF THE SKID MARKS REVEALED THE CESSNA HAD CONTACTED THE RWY WELL SHORT OF WHERE MOST OF THE C-130 TRAFFIC HAD BEEN LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4914H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4914H-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 15284017, built 1979 (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: 15284017
- Airframe hours: 2939
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: El Toro Mcas Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1987, 21 hours before
- Departed: NZJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NZJ, El Toro Mcas, runway 34, 8,000 ×  ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NZJ

## 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 19880126001359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880126001359A), Jan 26, 1988: Cessna 152, Santa Ana, CA, Destroyed. Landing too close behind a C130. Wake turbulence caused loss of control hard,impact with runway. Aircraft burned.

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.

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