# NTSB LAX95LA094: Cessna 152, N46874, Sedona, AZ, February 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 1995, 11:17 local (18:17 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.939792, -111.940551 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9398&lon=-111.9406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29022 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29022/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA094 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper compensation for the prevailing wind conditions, and his improper remedial action by raising the flaps before applying the power. The downdraft was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - powerplant controls - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRPORT UNICOM ADVISED THE PILOT THAT STRONG WINDS EXISTED AT THE AIRPORT WHICH IS SITUATED ON TOP OF A MESA. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, WITH THE FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY RAISED THE FLAPS TO 20 DEGREES, APPLIED FULL POWER, AND THEN RAISED THE NOSE TO ATTAIN THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 1995, at 1117 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N46874, collided with the terrain short of runway 03 at Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by Scottsdale Flyers, Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Scottsdale Airport at 1010 hours. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot said he encountered a "severe downdraft" while on final approach. The pilot could not arrest the downdraft and the airplane collided with the down-sloping terrain short of the runway threshold. The pilot repeated his statement in the aircraft accident report. He added, however, that while on final approach, the flaps were fully extended (30 degrees). When the airplane encountered the downdraft, he raised the flaps to 20 degrees, applied full power, and then turned off the carburetor heat. The pilot raised the nose to attain the best angle of climb (Vx) airspeed, but without success; the airplane continued descending. He continued to raise the nose to arrest the descent until the stall warning horn sounded. At this point, the pilot lowered the airplane nose and the airplane collided with the terrain. The airport is situated on a mesa and the threshold of runway 03 is about 150 feet northeast of the mesa drop-off. The airport manager said in a telephone interview conducted on April 25, 1995, that several airplanes landed at the airport before and after the accident. He said that the UNICOM operator advised all arriving airplanes of the prevailing strong winds. The manager also said the pilot told him that he intended to fly the approach above the operating visual approach slope indicator and land beyond the threshold. The pilot also said that "he lost control of the airplane." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46874](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46874-1998-02-19), registration cancelled 1998-02-19, S/N 15283129 (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: 15283129 - Airframe hours: 4072 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scottsdale Flyers - Registered owner: Judith E. & David M. Knott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 19, 1995, 27 hours before - Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 82 total, 72 in this make and model, 46 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 19 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950203003509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950203003509A), Feb 3, 1995: Cessna 152, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. Failed arrest downdraft on final. Impacted short off runway. Pilot reported he lost control. 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.