# NTSB LAX98LA018: Cessna 152, N89257, Torrance, CA, October 23, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 23, 1997, 11:32 local (18:32 UTC)
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Coordinates: 33.800842, -118.349868 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8008&lon=-118.3499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA018

## Probable cause

failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during a touch-and-go landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve, an encounter with soft terrain, and a nose over.  The sudden gust of wind 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
  - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during a touch-and-go landing, he encountered a sudden gust of wind and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane then departed the runway laterally, went into soft dirt, and nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On October 23, 1997, at 1132 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89257, was substantially damaged when it departed runway 29R and nosed over during a touch-and-go landing at Zamperini Airport, Torrance, California.  There were no injuries to the solo student pilot or ground personnel, and no damage to ground facilities.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated that a sudden gust of wind just prior to becoming airborne caused the airplane to veer to the left, after which he lost directional control and departed the runway laterally into soft dirt.  He also stated that there was no malfunction of the aircraft or its engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N89257 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1528292
- Airframe hours: 7328
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kip K. Myers
- Registered owner: Rolling Hills Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1997, 187 hours before
- Airport: TOA, Zamperini, runway 29R, 5,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TOA

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.

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