# NTSB NYC92LA156: Cessna 152, N69230, Plainville, CT, August 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1992, 20:10 local (Aug 11, 1992, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Plainville, CT
- Location: 41.6893° N, 72.8647° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ROBERTSON FLD (4B8), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6893&lon=-72.8647&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38574/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA156

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.  THE EMBANKMENT BESIDE THE RUNWAY 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, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND NOSED OVER.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF THE DISTANCE DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE 'PULLED VERY STRONGLY LEFT.'  HE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 1992, about 2010 eastern daylight time, N69230, a Cessna 152 airplane, a personal flight, operated by Interstate Aviation, Inc. of Plainville, Connecticut, nosed over during takeoff roll on runway 20 at Robertson Airport in  Plainville.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The pilot and passenger were not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The local flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

The airplane went off the left side of the 3600 foot long runway, down an embankment, and then it nosed over.  According to the pilot, "About one-quarter down runway, plane pulled very strongly to left.  I tried to counteract with right rudder to no avail."

The FAA examined the airplane and did not disclosed evidence of mechanical malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69230](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69230-2006-05-05), registration cancelled 2006-05-05, S/N 15282574, 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: 15282574
- Airframe hours: 8130
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Interstate Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1992, 46 hours before
- Departed: 4B8
- Airport: 4B8, Robertson Field, runway 20, 3,616 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,812 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19920810036659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920810036659A), Aug 10, 1992: Cessna 152, Plainville, CT, Substantial damage. Veered off side of runway on takeoff roll. Ran down embankment and nosed over.

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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