# NTSB NYC04CA121: Cessna 152, N94577, Pottstown, PA, May 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 6, 2004, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Pottstown, PA - Coordinates: 40.239444, -75.556663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2394&lon=-75.5567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59201/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA121 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - vehicle ## Analysis While practicing landings in the traffic pattern, during the landing flare, the student pilot noticed he was slightly left of centerline and applied full right rudder to correct. The nose of the airplane then turned sharply to the right, and the flight instructor applied left rudder to straighten it. However, the airplane had already drifted to the left side of the runway, touched down on the edge of the pavement, and the left wing impacted a tractor that was cutting the grass on the side of the runway. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2004, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94577, was substantially damaged during landing at the Pottstown Limerick Airport (PTW), Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to practice landings with the student pilot. During the landing flare, the student pilot noticed he was slightly left of centerline and applied full right rudder to correct. The nose of the airplane then turned sharply to the right, and the flight instructor applied left rudder to straighten it. However, the airplane had already drifted to the left side of the runway, touched down on the edge of the pavement, and the left wing impacted a tractor that was cutting the grass on the side of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94577](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94577), registered now, S/N 15285736, built 1983 (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: 15285736 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fare Share Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PTW, Pottstown, PA - Destination: PTW, Pottstown, PA - Airport: PTW, Pottstown Limerick Airport, runway 10, 3,371 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 16, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 432 total, 58 in this make and model, 344 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; medical: unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PTW ## 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 20040506018259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040506018259A), May 6, 2004: Cessna 152, Pottstown, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were approaching runway 28 for landing. As they crossed over the threshold, the plane weas… ## Other investigations on N94577 (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 NYC86LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA116), May 2, 1986: Cessna 152 II (N94577), Pittstown, NJ, 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.