# NTSB MIA98LA050: Cessna 152, N757VT, Everglades City, FL, January 2, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 1998, 13:54 local (18:54 UTC) - Place: Everglades City, FL - Coordinates: 25.830184, -81.39981 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8302&lon=-81.3998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38440/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA050 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to properly flare the airplane, which resulted in a hard landing and overload failure of the nose gear. The unfavorable wind conditions were related factors. ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the approach phase, there was a moderate crosswind (approximately 10 knots) from the east. He corrected for the crosswind by banking the aircraft into the wind. He further stated, that shortly before the runway threshold, a gust of wind from the west raised the aircraft's wing. He tried to take corrective action using rudder and aileron. The aircraft banked to the right, and the pilot tried to pull up as the aircraft went into a nose down attitude. The pilot was not able to fully recover from the sudden change in the aircraft's attitude. As a result of this, the aircraft hit the ground with the nosewheel, and the nosewheel separated from the aircraft. The propeller, and later the cowling, hit the runway. According to the airport manager, the pilot had called on the UNICOM frequency and asked for current weather. The airport manager advised the pilot of a '15 to 20 knot crosswind,' based on his observation of the airport windsock. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 1998, about 1354 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N757VT, registered to Ormond Beach Aviation Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, crashed while landing at the Everglades Airpark, Everglades City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Ormond Beach, Florida, at 1100. According to the pilot, "...during the approach phase there was a moderate crosswind (approximately 10 knots) from the east." He stated that to correct for the crosswind he "banked the aircraft into the wind." The pilot further stated, "...at or shortly before the runway threshold a gust from the west raised the aircraft's wing. I tried to take corrective action using rudder and aileron. The aircraft banked to the right and I tried to pull up as the aircraft went into a nose down attitude. I was not able to fully recover from the sudden change in the aircraft's attitude and as a result of this the aircraft hit the ground with the nosewheel. As the speed of the aircraft was still relatively high...the nose wheel was separated from the aircraft and the propeller and later the cowling hit the runway. After approximately 300 feet the aircraft came to a stop." According to the airport manager, the pilot of N757VT called on the UNICOM frequency and asked for current weather. The airport manager advised the pilot of a "15 to 20 knot crosswind," based on his observation of the airport windsock. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757VT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757VT-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 15280044, built 1977 (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: 15280044 - Airframe hours: 7841 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ormond Beach Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 1997, 42 hours before - Departed: OMN, ORMOND BEACH, FL - Destination: X01 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: X01, Everglades Airpark, runway 15, 2,400 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 193 total, 60 in this make and model, 128 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: APF, 13 nm away ## 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 19980102000079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980102000079A), Jan 2, 1998: Cessna 152, Everglades, FL, Substantial damage. Lost control landing in gusty crosswind. Hit nose first. Tore off nose gear wind exceeded crosswind component. (-23) the aircraft sustained substantial damage… ## Other investigations on N757VT (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC79FGM31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FGM31), Jul 3, 1979: Cessna 152 (N757VT), West Mifflin, PA, substantial damage 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.