LAX94LA384

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Petaluma, CA · September 21, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 21, 1994, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Petaluma, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6208BCessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 14, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
28877

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the failure of the pilot to initiate a go-around after failing to obtain the proper airspeed and rate of descent during the approach.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding - flare/touchdown
Go-around - not performedPilot in commandCause
Altitude - excessivePilot in commandFactor
Airspeed - excessivePilot in commandFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - building(nonresidential)
Object - vehicle

Analysis

The pilot made several attempts to land. On her first three attempts, she was too high and too fast. On her fourth attempt, she was also high and fast, but she applied full flaps and slipped the aircraft during the approach. After landing, she attempted to stop, but realized she had insufficient runway remaining. To avoid running off the end of the runway, she attempted to turn right, and the aircraft struck a hangar located off the right side of the runway and a parked vehicle. She believed the wind direction shifted during the approach, resulting in a downwind landing.

Factual narrative

On September 21, 1994, at 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6208B, was substantially damaged during a landing overrun at Petaluma, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by Aero Venture Clubs, Inc., and was on a solo recreational flight. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. The certificated recreational pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Petaluma Municipal airport at 1115 on the day of the accident.

The pilot reported that she departed Petaluma Municipal airport en route to Liberty Field, a flight of 15 minutes. Upon her arrival at Liberty Field, she made several attempts to land, approaching from the east with the intent of landing to the west. She stated that on her first three attempts she was too high and fast to land. On her fourth attempt, she said she was also high and fast, but this time she continued the approach, applying full flaps and slipping the aircraft.

After landing, she attempted to stop, but she was unable to do so on the remaining runway. To avoid striking a fence at the end of the runway, she attempted to turn right and the aircraft struck a hangar on the right side of the runway. After striking the hangar, the aircraft next struck a vehicle that was parked near the hangar. She stated that the airport has three windsocks positioned at different points around the airport because the winds tend to shift. She said she believed the wind direction shifted during the approach, resulting in a downwind landing.

A postaccident inspection of the aircraft by the owner and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector revealed spar damage to the left wing.

Aircraft

Registration
N6208B
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15283908
Airframe hours
1,878
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Dick Hodge, doing business as Aero Venture Clubs, Inc.
Registered owner
Dick Hodge
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Airport
Liberty Field, runway 27, 3,300 × ft, dirt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
38
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
270 total · 250 in this make and model · 78 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 10 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
29.00 inHg