# NTSB NYC98LA137: Cessna 152, N25858, Pottstown, PA, June 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 1998, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Pottstown, PA - Coordinates: 40.249347, -75.640052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2493&lon=-75.6401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39580/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA137 ## Probable cause The student pilot's excessive application of the right brake, resulting in a ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve, pilot in command ## Analysis The student pilot was doing a three-point landing while on his third touch-and-go landing during the flight . The airplane had been converted to a tailwheel configuration. According to the student, he drifted to the left and added right rudder. It did not seem effective, so he applied right brake. The airplane made a hard right turn, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane spun approximately 140 degrees to the left before coming to rest. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 1998, about 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 152, N25858, was substantially damaged during a practice landing at the Pottstown Limerick Airport (PTW), Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was equipped with a "Texas Taildragger" conversion. According to the student pilot's statement, he made three uneventful takeoffs and landings. On the fourth landing, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, then bounced, then touched down again on all three wheels. It drifted to the left side of the runway, so the student pilot applied right rudder. When he felt the rudder was ineffective, he applied right brake. The left main landing gear broke, and the airplane spun to its left. The student pilot did not recall if he removed the power that was applied after the first bounce, nor did he recall inputs made with the yoke. The student pilot's instructor was watching from the ground and observed the student pilot make a three-point landing. He stated: "Within seconds after touchdown, it appeared [the student pilot] was having a directional control problem, and for some reason applied heavy right brake, which forced the airplane to execute a hard right turn." While in the right turn, the left main landing gear separated, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane spun on the runway about 140 degrees before coming to rest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25858](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25858-2011-09-28), registration cancelled 2011-09-28, S/N 15280823, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15280823 - Airframe hours: 4150 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pottstown Flight School - Registered owner: Kemner Equipment Mgmt Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1998, 3 hours before - Departed: PTW - Airport: PTW, Pottstown Limerick Airprt, runway 10, 3,371 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 26 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 19980628020759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980628020759A), Jun 28, 1998: Cessna 152, Pottstown, PA, Substantial damage. On June 28, 1998, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N25858, was substantially damaged during a practice landing at the Pottstown Limerick Airport… 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.