# NTSB LAX94LA224: Cessna 152, N93069, Los Banos, CA, May 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1994, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Los Banos, CA - Coordinates: 37.070098, -120.840995 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0701&lon=-120.8410&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28746/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA224 ## Probable cause the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and his resultant loss of directional control. A factor in the accident was the student's lack of total flight experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE 37-HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 32 WITH ABOUT A 30-DEGREE 15-KNOT LEFT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF AND IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED ON A TAXIWAY PARALLEL AND ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO VEER LEFT, DEPARTED THE PAVEMENT, AND WENT INTO A WEED COVERED FIELD. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD STOP THE AIRCRAFT, IT ENCOUNTERED A DITCH. THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR LANDED AT THE LOS BANOS AIRPORT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT ON A DUAL CROSS-COUNTRY ABOUT 1 HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SAID THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. HE AND THE SECOND STUDENT DEPARTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND THE WINDS WERE FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 15 TO 17 KNOTS. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WHO HAD THE ACCIDENT HAD EXPERIENCED AND HANDLED SIMILAR WIND CONDITIONS ON PRIOR DUAL FLIGHTS WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 1994, at 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N93069, veered off the runway during the takeoff ground run and collided with a ditch at the Los Banos, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by Tradewinds Aviation of San Jose, California, and was on a student solo cross-country instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating as the return portion of a round robin solo cross country flight from San Jose to Los Banos. In a telephone interview, the 37-hour student pilot reported that he was attempting to takeoff on runway 32 with about a 30-degree 15-knot left crosswind. The pilot said he lost directional control as the aircraft lifted off and it veered off the runway to the left. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and landed on a taxiway parallel and adjacent to the runway. The aircraft continued to veer to the left, departed the pavement, and went into a weed covered field. Before the pilot could stop the aircraft, it encountered a ditch. The student's flight instructor was interviewed and he reported that he landed at the Los Banos airport with another student on a dual cross-country about 1 hour before the accident. The flight instructor said the winds at the time were from the west- northwest gusting to 20 knots. He and the second student departed about 10 minutes prior to the accident, and the winds were from the west-northwest at 15 knots gusting to 17. The flight instructor stated that the student pilot who had the accident had experienced and handled similar wind conditions on prior dual instructional periods without difficulty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93069](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93069-2021-12-20), registration cancelled 2021-12-20, S/N 15285389, built 1981 (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: 15285389 - Airframe hours: 4452 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tradewinds Aviation - Registered owner: Michael J. Pavick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 13, 1994, 22 hours before - Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LSN, Los Banos Muni, runway 32, 3,000 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19940525012589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940525012589A), May 25, 1994: Cessna 152, Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. Lost control on takeoff in strong gusty crosswind. Aborted. Landed on taxiway. Veered into ditch. Too much wind. ## Other investigations on N93069 (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 GAA19CA566](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA566), Sep 18, 2019: Cessna 152 (N93069), Denton, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a nose landing gear collapse. 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.