# NTSB NYC98LA003: Cessna 152, N94999, West Chester, PA, October 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1997, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: West Chester, PA - Coordinates: 39.989139, -75.600212 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9891&lon=-75.6002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39480/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA003 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot flew an approach to runway 27. The airplane landed left main gear first, then a gust of wind raised the right wing, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and nosed over. Winds at the time of the accident were reported from 220 degrees at 11 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1997, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94999, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during landing at the Brandywine Airport, West Chester, Pennsylvania. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for solo instructional flight that originated at Brandywine Airport. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the student pilot stated that the airplane touched down left main gear first, and a gust of wind raised the right wing. He also stated, "...I tried to let the plane settle on its own but lost control as the plane veered off to the right..." Upon exiting the runway, the airplane's nose gear and propeller assembly contacted grass boarding runway 27, and the airplane nosed over. The Philadelphia International Airport reported the winds, at 1251, to be from 220 degrees at 11 knots. The Willow Grove Naval Air Station reported the winds, at 1255, to be from 220 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94999](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94999-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 15285834, 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: 15285834 - Airframe hours: 5580 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ted Air Service - Registered owner: A.C.R. Machine Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 1997, 10 hours before - Departed: N99 - Airport: N99, Brandywine, runway 27, 3,007 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 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 19971003030099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971003030099A), Oct 3, 1997: Cessna 152, Brandywine, PA, Substantial damage. Encountered strong gusts of wind on takeoff, departed the runway, flipped over. ## Other investigations on N94999 (2) 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 MIA00LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA078), Jan 29, 2000: Cessna 152 (N94999), Kissimmee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to obtain winds aloft for the planned cross country flight with a preflight weather briefing and inadequate fuel consumption calculations performed by the pilot resulting in… - [NTSB NYC93LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA103), Jun 4, 1993: Cessna 152 (N94999), West Chester, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTING THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRIKING 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.