# NTSB LAX93LA212: Cessna 152, N714ZL, Elko, NV, May 11, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 1993, 10:19 local (17:19 UTC) - Place: Elko, NV - Coordinates: 40.949562, -115.790878 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9496&lon=-115.7909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28381 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28381/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA212 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE IN NOT DETERMINING THE SURFACE WINDS PRIOR TO LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING IN CONDITIONS BEYOND THE DEMONSTRATED CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (cause) - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,landing capability - exceeded (cause) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER HE ARRIVED OVER THE AIRPORT, HE ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CONTACT SOMEONE ON UNICOM FOR AN AIRPORT ADVISORY. WHEN HE COULD NOT RAISE ANYONE, THE PILOT TRIED TO FIND A WIND TEE OR SOCK INDICATOR TO ASCERTAIN THE WINDS AND ACTIVE RUNWAY, AGAIN WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE PILOT STATED HE THEN OBSERVED OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 5 AND ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR THAT RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING FLARE A SUDDEN AND STRONG CROSS WIND GUST BEGAN BLOWING THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND, ENCOUNTERED A BERM AND NOSED OVER. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURFACE OBSERVATION TAKEN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTING IN WINDS FROM 190 DEG AT 14 KTS, WITH GUSTS TO 26 KTS. THE CROSS-WIND COMPONENT FOR RWY 5 WAS CALCULATED AT 9 KTS, WITH A GUST FACTOR TO 16 KTS. ACCORDING TO CESSNA AIRCRAFT, THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSS-WIND COMPONENT FOR THE CESSNA 150/152 SERIES AIRCRAFT IS 13 KTS. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 1993, at about 1019 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N714ZL, nosed over following an on ground loss of control by the pilot while landing at Elko, Nevada. The aircraft was operated by American Aviation, Inc., of Bountiful, Utah, and was rented by the pilot for the personal cross country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Both the certificated private pilot and his one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at Salt Lake City, Utah, on the day of the mishap at about 0930 hours as a cross country to Elko. According to a verbal statement the pilot made to an FAA inspector from the Reno, Nevada, Flight Standards District Office, the flight from Salt Lake City to Elko was uneventful. After he arrived over the airport, he attempted unsuccessfully to contact someone on the UNICOM frequency for an airport advisory. When he could not raise anyone on the UNICOM frequency, the pilot tried to find a wind Tee or sock indicator to ascertain the winds and active runway, again without success. The pilot said he then observed other aircraft in the traffic pattern for runway 5 and entered the pattern for that runway. The pilot said that during the landing flare a sudden and strong cross wind gust began blowing the aircraft off the left side of the runway. He reported that he attempted to go around; however, the aircraft contacted the ground, encountered a berm and nosed over. The National Weather Service surface observation taken at the time of the accident was reporting in part winds from 190 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 26 knots. The cross wind component for runway 5 was calculated at 9 knots with the gust factor to 16 knots. According to Cessna Aircraft, the maximum demonstrated cross wind component for the Cessna 150 and 152 series aircraft is 13 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N714ZL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N714ZL-2006-12-01), registration cancelled 2006-12-01, S/N 15279561, built 1977 (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: 15279561 - Airframe hours: 5830 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: American Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 1993, 44 hours before - Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EKO, Elko Muni, runway 5, 7,211 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 86 total, 59 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 14 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EKO ## 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 19930511013259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930511013259A), May 11, 1993: Cessna 152, Elko, NV, Substantial damage. Reported crosswind gust blew aircraft off side runway. Tried go around but settled struck berm and nosed over. 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.