# NTSB NYC94LA031: Cessna 152, N5325P, Millbrook, NY, December 4, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1993, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place: Millbrook, NY
- Coordinates: 41.779041, -73.689537 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7790&lon=-73.6895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA031

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain direction control which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.  Factors were the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his inexperience.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH EXCESSIVE SPEED, LANDED HARD ON THE MAIN GEAR, BECAME AIRBORNE AND HIT A SECOND TIME.  AFTER THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND WHILE STILL AIRBORNE THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO THE ENGINE.  THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO CLIMB, BUT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE.

## Factual narrative

On Saturday, December 4, 1993, at about 0955 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N5325P, piloted by Mr. Edward A. Acito, collided with trees during a go around at Sky Acres Airport, Lagrangeville, New York.  The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after turning to final approach he realized he was high and in an attempt to touch down at the desired point on the runway he increased the speed of the airplane.  The pilot said, "...while performing [the] flare,[the airplane] ballooned due to excessive air speed..."

The student pilot's instructor [CFI] witnessed the accident, and according to the CFI, the student pilot was on his first solo flight, the airplane touched down with excessive speed; landed hard on the main gear; became airborne and hit a second time.  After the second touchdown, the airplane bounced and while still airborne the pilot applied power to the engine.  The airplane started to climb, but drifted to the left of the runway and the left wing struck a tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5325P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5325P-1995-07-27), registration cancelled 1995-07-27, S/N 15284916 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15284916
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Styles Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 44N, LAGRANGEVILLE, NY
- Destination: 44N
- Airport: 44N, Sky Acres, runway 35, 3,800 × 20 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: POU, 15 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 19931204046029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931204046029A), Dec 4, 1993: Cessna 152, Millbrook, NY, Substantial damage. Bounced on hard landing. First solo cross country. Began go around. Drifted off runway alignment. Struck trees.

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.