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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

October 5, 1997 · Cessna 152 · N89627

Dover, DE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 5, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Dover, DE
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N89627
Operator
Jim Strong Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
IAD98LA003

The student pilot took off and practiced maneuvers for 45 minutes. After completion of two landings at another airport, he returned to his home airport for additional landings. The student pilot completed two landings and was on the third when the accident occurred. The runway was 2,533 feet long with a 539 foot displaced threshold. The student pilot recalled that on final everything was the same as the two previous landings, except he was a little higher and a little faster. With 30 degrees of flaps, the student pilot pushed forward on the yoke and the airspeed increased to about 70 knots. The airplane bounced at midfield, settled back to the runway, where he applied heavy braking. The airplane skidded off the end of the runway into a freshly plowed garden. The nose gear sank into the soft ground, collapsing the nose gear. The airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed which resulted in an overrun of the runway.

Full Narrative

On October 5, 1997, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89627, was substantially damaged as it nose over after departing the runway during landing at the Chandelle Estates Airport (0N4), Dover, Delaware. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot took off from 0N4 and practiced flight maneuvers for 45 minutes. He flew to the Smyrna Airport, Smyrna, Delaware, for two landings, and returned to 0N4 for additional landings. The pilot stated that he had already completed two landings and was executing the third one when the accident happened. Runway 04 was 2,533 feet long with a 539 foot displaced threshold. The pilot recalled that on final everything was the same as the two previous landings, except he was a little higher and a little faster. With 30 degrees of flaps, the student pilot remembered pushing forward on the yoke and the airspeed increased to about 70 knots. His plan was to touch down by midfield, or abort the landing. The airplane bounced at midfield, settled back to the runway, and the pilot applied heavy braking. The airplane skidded off the end of the runway into a freshly plowed garden. The nose gear sank into the soft ground, collapsing, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. The examination revealed that the nose gear strut broke off, the fire wall was damaged, and both wings incurred spar damage. The pilot reported that he did not have any mechanical problems with the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 EDT
Nearest AirportChandelle Airport (0nm)
Runway4
Runway Length2533 ft
Runway Width28 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN89627
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJim Strong Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 19 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data