# NTSB LAX97LA022: Cessna 152, N48728, Imperial, CA, October 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 1996, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Imperial, CA - Coordinates: 32.770034, -115.600547 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7700&lon=-115.6005&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29669/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA022 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in a ground swerve. Soft terrain on the shoulder of the runway was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis When the student pilot first attempted to land, during his third supervised solo cross-country flight, the airplane had excessive altitude and airspeed, so he made a go-around. The pilot successfully touched down on the runway during his next attempt. However, during rollout, the airplane veered left, and the student corrected by applying pressure to the right rudder and/or brake. The airplane then swerved right, went off the side of the runway, entered soft mud on the shoulder, and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 1996, at 1615 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N48728, operated by Anglo American Aviation, El Cajon, California, nosed over during landing rollout at the Imperial County Airport, Imperial, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the student pilot's third supervised solo cross-country flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Twentynine Palms, California, at 1400. The student pilot's flight instructor (CFI) reported he interviewed his student several hours after the accident. According to the CFI, the student indicated when he first attempted to land on runway 32, the airplane had excessive altitude and airspeed, so he made a go-around. The pilot touched down on the runway during his next attempt. During rollout, the airplane veered left and the student corrected by applying pressure to the right rudder and/or brake. Thereafter, the airplane swerved right, and the student indicated he attempted to maintain directional control. The nose gear assembly bent, and the airplane veered off the side of the runway, entered the soft mud shoulder, and nosed over. The student pilot provided a written statement in which he indicated that during the landing rollout he was not able to keep the airplane on the centerline of the runway, and it initially veered left. The student reported that when he "tried to compensate to the right," the airplane departed the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48728](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48728-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N 15283365, 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: 15283365 - Airframe hours: 7093 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Anglo-American Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: California Wings Of El Cajon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: TNP, TWENTYNINE PALM, CA - Destination: IPL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IPL, Imperial County, runway 32, 5,304 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 30 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19961017032999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961017032999A), Oct 17, 1996: Cessna 152, Imperial, CA, Substantial damage. Swerved on landing. Overcorrected. Left runway. Bent nose gear. Nosed over. 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.