# NTSB SEA08CA107: Cessna 152, N5259B, Tucson, AZ, April 7, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 7, 2008, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.148056, -111.18
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1481&lon=-111.1800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67788
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67788/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA107

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind condition, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain while landing. A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that he was practicing landings, and on the last landing the control tower reported a wind gust of 14 knots. The student pilot stated that after he landed "...the airplane went back in the air and I lost control." The airplane subsequently impacted the runway surface in a nose low, left wing down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the outboard 2 feet of the left wing.

## Factual narrative

The 101-hour student pilot reported that he was practicing landings, and on the last landing the control tower reported a wind gust of 14 knots. The student pilot stated that after he landed "...the airplane went back in the air and I lost control." The airplane subsequently impacted the runway surface in a nose low, left wing low attitude, which resulted in subtantial damage to the outboard 2 feet of the left wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5259B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5259B-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 15283819, built 1979 (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: 15283819
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: International Airline Training Academy Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: RYN, Tucson, AZ
- Destination: RYN, Tucson, AZ
- Airport: RYN, Ryan Field, runway 24R, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 22; student; medical: class 2; flight hours: 101 total, 101 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: RYN

## 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 20080407013199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080407013199A), Apr 7, 2008: Cessna 152, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was a student pilot on an authorized solo. Winds were gusting to 25KTS from 330. Aircraft was landing on runway 24. Aircraft bounced on landing,…

## Other investigations on N5259B (1)

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 SEA91LA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA010), Oct 27, 1990: Cessna 152 (N5259B), Blackfoot, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE IMPROPER AIRSPEED AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPEREINCE.

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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