# NTSB MIA99LA092: Cessna 152, N49407, Melbourne, FL, February 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 1999, 17:06 local (22:06 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Coordinates: 28.150493, -80.64994 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1505&lon=-80.6499&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 7, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45830/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA092 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A related factor was the pilot's diverted attention. ## 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) - diverted attention, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The student pilot stated that during the landing roll on the touch-and-go landing, he became distracted when the air traffic control tower controller questioned whether the landing would be a full stop or a touch-and-go landing. He lost directional control of the aircraft which departed the left side of the runway and traveled into a ditch. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 1999, about 1706 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N49407, registered to Britannia Flight Center, Inc., collided with a ditch following a loss of control during a touch-and-go landing at the Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1620 from the Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport, Winter Haven, Florida. The student pilot flew to Melbourne for the intention of performing one touch-and-go landing, then intended on returning to the departure airport. Review of a certified copy of the voice tape from Melbourne Air Traffic Control Tower revealed that the pilot identified himself as a student pilot on initial contact and requested a touch-and-go landing. The controller cleared the flight for a straight in approach to runway 9R, then cleared the flight to land. The pilot stated that the landing was reasonably smooth but slightly fast and while retracting the flaps, removing carburetor heat, and applying full throttle, the tower questioned whether the landing would be a full stop or touch-and-go landing. Review of the voice tape revealed that the controller questioned the pilot if he would taxi back; the pilot responded that he was performing a touch-and-go landing. The pilot further stated that he became distracted by the question from the controller, lost directional control of the airplane which veered to the left off the runway onto grass. Unable to stop the airplane, it traveled into a ditch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49407](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49407-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 15281242, 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: 15281242 - Airframe hours: 8999 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Britannia Flight Center, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 29, 1999, 86 hours before - Departed: GIF, WINTER HAVEN, FL - Destination: MLB - Airport: MLB, Melbourne Int'L Airport, runway 9R, 9,483 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 9 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MLB ## 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 19990225045419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990225045419A), Feb 25, 1999: Cessna 152, Melbourne, FL, No damage. (-23)SO159917856 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.