# NTSB LAX94LA237: Cessna 152, N94509, Upper Lake, CA, June 4, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1994, 13:22 local (20:22 UTC) - Place: Upper Lake, CA - Coordinates: 39.260208, -122.959144 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2602&lon=-122.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28758 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28758/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA237 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING A GO- AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION IN INITIATING THE GO-AROUND AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE ATTEMPTED INITIAL CLIMB. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT, OBSERVED THE WINDSOCK, AND NOTED THAT A CROSSWIND CONDITION EXISTED. ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE 4,050-FOOT-LONG RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WAS AT VARIOUS TIMES FLYING 'SLOW' AND 'FAST.' THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'FLOATED AND FLOATED,' AND IT WAS STILL 30 FEET IN THE AIR AT MIDFIELD. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER, AND LEFT ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. BY THE TIME THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, IT HAD CLIMBED TO 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT INITIATED A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND PANCAKED ONTO THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1994, at 1322 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94509, operated by Pacific States Aviation, Inc., Concord, California, collided with terrain during an attempted go-around at the Gravelly Valley (uncontrolled) Airport, Upper Lake, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot received minor injuries. The passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated from Concord, California, on June 4, 1994, at 1205. The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that while overflying the airport he observed the windsock, noted that a crosswind condition existed, and entered the traffic pattern. On final approach to runway 01, the airplane was at various times flying "slow" or was "high and fast." The pilot stated that during his landing flare the airplane "floated and floated." By the time the airplane was approaching midfield, it was still about 30 feet in the air, so he decided to go around. The pilot further reported that he added full engine power and retracted the flaps to the 20 degrees setting. The carburetor heat was left in the "on" position. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, it had climbed to approximately 50 feet above the ground, and a slight right turn was begun to avoid the rising terrain. The stall warning horn sounded, the airplane stalled, and it pancaked onto the ground. The ELT activated. Information published in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) "Airport/Facility Directory" indicated the Gravelly Valley Airport's elevation was 1,900 feet mean sea level. Runway 01/19 was 4,050 feet long by 200 feet wide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94509](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94509-1995-06-02), registration cancelled 1995-06-02, S/N 15285699 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285699 - Airframe hours: 2163 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pacific States Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Pacific States Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1994, 9 hours before - Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA - Destination: 1Q5 - Airport: 1Q5, Gravelly Valley, runway 1, 4,050 × 200 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 191 total, 53 in this make and model, 128 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °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 19940604013939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940604013939A), Jun 4, 1994: Cessna 152, Upper Lake, CA, Substantial damage. High and fast. Floated. Began go around end of runway. Climbed 50 feet turned to avoid rising terrain and stalled. 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.