# NTSB SEA96LA084: Cessna 152, N24316, Erda, UT, April 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1996, 21:15 local (Apr 27, 1996, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Erda, UT - Coordinates: 40.570144, -112.329246 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5701&lon=-112.3292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42357/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA084 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing. Darkness was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - night (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - Nose down, other ## Analysis The pilot stated that while attempting a night landing, he 'came in, touched down then flared off the runway.' He stated that he started to attempt a go-around but 'the next thing I knew I was nose down in the dirt', approximately 1,100 feet beyond the approach end of the runway and to the left of the runway. The pilot reported that he had 86.2 hours of total pilot time at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1996, approximately 2115 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N24316, operated by Great Western Aviation of Salt Lake City, Utah, nosed down during landing at Bolinder Field-Tooele Valley Airport, Erda, Utah. The aircraft was substantially damaged but the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane had departed Salt Lake City International Airport for Tooele Valley on an instructional night solo practice flight as part of a 14 CFR 141 instrument/commercial pilot training course syllabus. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR 91, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement to the FAA on-scene investigator, the pilot reported that he was performing the sixth in a series of ten full-stop landings to runway 34 at Tooele Valley (5,500 by 75 feet, asphalt, elevation 4,316 feet) and was in a 30-degree "full flap" configuration. He stated: "I came in[,] touched down[,] then flared off the runway[.] I decided to do a go around. I started the go around procedure then the next thing I knew I was nose down in the dirt." He stated that the airplane came to rest about 1,100 feet from the approach end of runway 34, to the left of the runway. He reported the flight conditions as night, clear and dry, 25 miles visibility, and "little to calm winds." He reported that the runway lights and airport beacon were "on and completely operational", and stated in a telephone interview that the aircraft's landing light was on at the time. According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory, Tooele Valley runway 34 is equipped with pilot-controlled medium-intensity runway lights and a 2-box visual approach slope indicator (VASI). The pilot also indicated in his written statement that his flight instructor had conducted a complete preflight briefing with him prior to the accident flight. A solar and lunar event prediction computer program used by the investigator indicated that sunset at Tooele Valley airport occurred at 2021 on the evening of the accident, that evening twilight ended there at 2126 that evening, and that there was 65 percent moon illumination there (with full moon being 100%) between end of evening twilight and moonset at 0320. The pilot reported that he had 86.2 hours of total pilot time at the time of the accident Great Western Aviation did not furnish any information regarding the aircraft's inspection history or aircraft flight hours on its operator's report of the accident (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). There were no reports of any mechanical problems with the aircraft being suspected or discovered by the pilot, the operator, or the FAA on-scene investigator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24316](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24316-2017-12-21), registration cancelled 2017-12-21, S/N 15280213, built 1977 (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: 15280213 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Great Western Aviation - Registered owner: Richard L. Hyer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Destination: TVY - Airport: TVY, Bolinder-Tooele Valley, runway 34, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960426008709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426008709A), Apr 26, 1996: Cessna 152, Tooele, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot reported ballooned landing. Tried co around. Nosed over near end runway. Hard braking to stop on runway. 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.