# NTSB NYC00LA101: Cessna 152, N67639, Hazelton, PA, March 1, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2000, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Hazelton, PA
- Coordinates: 40.950355, -75.970817 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9504&lon=-75.9708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51270
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51270/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA101

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.

## 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 - crosswind
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

While landing on runway 10, the airplane initially touched down on the right main landing gear first and the nose shifted unexpectedly to the left.  The pilot centered the rudder and inputted left aileron in an attempt to get the left main landing gear on the ground; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left.  The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and came to rest in a ditch.  Winds reported at a nearby airport were from 340 degrees at 4 knots.

## Factual narrative

On March 1, 2000, about 0930 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 152, N67639, was substantially damaged while landing at the Hazelton Municipal Airport (HZL), Hazleton, Pennsylvania.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Eastern West Virginia Regional/Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, West Virginia.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, while landing on Runway 10, a 4,898-foot long, 100-foot wide, asphalt runway, the airplane initially touched down on the right main landing gear first and the nose shifted unexpectedly to the left.  The pilot centered the rudder and inputted left aileron in an attempt to get the left main landing gear on the ground; however, the airplane continued to drift to the left.  The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and came to rest in a ditch.

The winds reported at an airport 24 miles to the northeast of HZL, at 0954, were from 340 degrees at 4 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67639](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67639-2017-12-22), registration cancelled 2017-12-22, S/N 15281955, built 1978 (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: 15281955
- Airframe hours: 6710
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 105 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aero-Smith Inc
- Registered owner: Kenneth E. Feith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2000, 14 hours before
- Departed: MRB, MARTINSBURG, WV
- Destination: HZL
- Airport: HZL, Hazelton Municipal, runway 10, 4,898 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 55 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AVP, 24 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 20000301043739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000301043739A), Mar 1, 2000: Cessna 152, Hazleton, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed his home base airport on a VFR flight to Hazleton, PA (hzl). The pilot made the approach to runway 10 at the Hazleton airport and landed…

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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