# NTSB LAX96LA337: Cessna 152, N5120H, San Carlos, AZ, September 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 1996, 19:30 local (Sep 16, 1996, 02:30 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, AZ - Coordinates: 33.540061, -110.469619 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5401&lon=-110.4696&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29563 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29563/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA337 ## Probable cause the pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff with the runway lights inoperative, and his failure to maintain runway alignment during an aborted takeoff, after failure of the landing light. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, inoperative runway lights, failure of the landing light, and the encounter with soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway edge lights - inoperative (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - landing light(s) - failure,total (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot was beginning a night VFR flight, and only 9 percent of the moon was illuminated. The pilot knew that the runway lights were inoperative. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's landing light failed, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The pilot was unable to maintain runway alignment, and the airplane went off the left side of the runway. The airplane then encountered soft terrain, and the nose landing gear collapsed. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 1996, at 1930 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N5120H, drifted off the left side of the runway during the takeoff roll at San Carlos Airport, San Carlos, Arizona, and collapsed the nose gear. The pilot was beginning a visual flight rules personal flight to Prescott, Arizona. The airplane, registered to and operated by WGL, Inc., d.b.a. Aerleon Flight Services, North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported in a telephone interview conducted on September 20, 1996, that the airport's runway lights were inoperative. He said that during the takeoff ground roll the airplane's landing light failed. The pilot aborted the takeoff, but the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway. The airplane's nose gear collapsed when the airplane entered the soft terrain adjacent to the runway. According to astrological data obtained from a computer generated Sun and Moon Information program, at the time of the accident, sunset ended at 1831 and the end of twilight was at 1856. The altitude of the sun was -13 degrees (below the horizon) and the altitude of the moon was 7.7 degrees (above the horizon). Only 9 percent of the moon was illuminated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5120H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5120H), registered now, S/N 15284063, built 1979 (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: 15284063 - Airframe hours: 7913 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wgl Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 1996, 9 hours before - Destination: PRC, PRESCOTT, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 4AZ7, San Carlos, runway 14, 7,335 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 65 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19960915031419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960915031419A), Sep 15, 1996: Cessna 152, San Carlos, AZ, Substantial damage. Night takeoff. No runway lights. Landing light failed. Aborted. Exited runway. Collapsed nose gear. 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.