# NTSB SEA97LA066: Cessna 152, N48965, College Place, WA, February 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 1997, 16:08 local (Feb 26, 1997, 00:08 UTC) - Place: College Place, WA - Coordinates: 46.040294, -118.400108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0403&lon=-118.4001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42569/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA066 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's improper in-flight decision to continue the landing attempt and not perform a go-around, her failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and her failure to apply proper remedial action. A contributing factor was the presence of a dirt bank at the end of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot intended on landing on a 2,600-foot paved airstrip. During the final approach, the airplane was high on the glide path, so the CFI placed it into a slip. As the airplane approached the runway, it continued to float above it. The CFI elected not to perform a balked landing and attempted to land the airplane on the remaining runway length. The airplane touched down on the opposite end of the runway and the CFI applied the brakes. The airplane continued to roll beyond the end of the runway onto soft terrain. It impacted a dirt berm, nosed over, flipped inverted, and was substantially damaged. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 1997, at 1608 Pacific standard time, N48965, a Cessna 152, operated by Walla Walla College, nosed over during landing rollout at Martin Field in College Place, Washington, and was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The instructional flight departed from Walla Walla about 1530 and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the CFI: My student and I came onto final at Martin Field, a little high. We slipped the plane down to the runway and then floated a ways. By the time we realized there wasn't enough room to land, I wasn't sure we'd be able to go around. We stuck to our "game plan". As soon as the wheels touched, the brakes were applied hard. We slowed down quite a bit by the time we came to the end of the runway, but we still ran off the end of it and into a farmers field. According to local authorities, the airplane overran the runway, continued onto soft terrain, impacted a dirt berm, nosed over, flipped inverted, and was substantially damaged. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48965](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48965-2000-06-26), registration cancelled 2000-06-26, S/N 15281077 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281077 - Airframe hours: 8730 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walla Walla College Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1997, 5 hours before - Departed: ALW, WALLA WALLA, WA - Destination: S95 - Airport: S95, Martin Field, runway 23, 2,600 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 354 total, 150 in this make and model, 271 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALW, 6 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 19970226001879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970226001879A), Feb 26, 1997: Cessna 152, College Place, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran off runway, nosed over in soft terrain during touch and go landings. ## Other investigations on N48965 (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 SEA91LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA177), Jul 17, 1991: Cessna 152 (N48965), Walla Walla, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE STUDENT PILOT'S POOR COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE DOWNDRAFTS AND THE STUDENT PILOTS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION. 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.