SEA07LA024

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Missoula, MT · November 25, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 25, 2006, 15:38 local (22:38 UTC)
Place
Missoula, MT
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N93239Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 26, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20061125023859A
Case key
64958

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The student pilot's misjudged distance/speed during final approach, which resulted in an overrun during landing roll and collision with a fence.

Analysis

The stident pilot was downwind in the traffic pattern in preparation for landing when he was instructed by the air traffic controller to reverse his pattern and land on the opposite runway. The student misjudged his landing approach, and landed about midpoint on the runway. The airplane subsequently overran the end of the runway and struck a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing.

Factual narrative

On November 25, 2006, about 1538 mountain standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N93239, sustained substantial damage after impacting a fence pole following a long landing and runway excursion at the Missoula International Airport (MSO), Missoula, Montana. The airplane is registered to and operated by Minuteman Aviation of Missoula. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed MSO approximately 1445.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the student pilot reported that he was instructed by his instructor to remain in the airport traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. The student stated that after departing on Runway 29 and being requested by air traffic control to alter his course for traffic, he then proceeded northwest to a training area, over flew the area, and then returned to MSO to practice touch-and-go landings as instructed. The student further stated that after entering left downwind for Runway 29 he encountered a heavy squall that had moved into the airport traffic area. The student reported that the controller instructed him to make a 180-degree turn, and that he understood the controller had issued him clearance to land on Runway 07. The student stated that after touching down at the runway's midpoint, and careful not to apply too much braking, the airplane subsequently ran off the end of the runway. The student reported that he then applied left brake in an attempt to get back on a service road. However, during the maneuver the airplane's right wing impacted a fence post, which resulted in substantial damage to the outboard section of the right wing's rear spar, as well as damage to the airplane's propeller. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to the flight.

At 1540, the MSO Automated Surface Observing System issued a special observation, which reported wind 190 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 2 ½ statute miles, light snow showers, broken clouds at 2,900 feet, broken clouds at 4,500 feet, broken clouds at 5,500 feet, temperature 1 degree C, dew point minus 4 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of Mercury. Snow showers began at 36 minutes after the hour.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding - roll
Distance/speed - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fence

Aircraft

Registration
N93239
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15285447
Airframe hours
12,534.6
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Minuteman Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 1, 2006
Departed
MSP · Missoula, MT
Destination
MSO · Missoula, MT
Airport
MSO · Missoula International Airport, runway 07, 4,612 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
54
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
29 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 9 knots
Visibility
2.5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,900 ft broken
Temperature
34 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
29.85 inHg
Observed at
MSO

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N93239 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.