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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 31, 1982 · Cessna 152 · N89963

Albuquerque, NM

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 31, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N89963
Operator
Kirkland Afb Aero Club
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW82DA052

The instructor elected to use a 2800 to 3200 ft road as a landing strip to practice a landing and takeoff. The instructor had used the road many times before and considered it an ideal practice area. The road had been recently graded, was located away from populated areas, and was at an elevation of about 5300 ft. After demonstrating an off field landing, the instructor began a takeoff to the north. The wind was from 220 degrees at 9 knots. A soft field technique was used during the first 1/4 of the takeoff. The instructor reported realizing a mistake and switched to a short field technique and continued the takeoff. During rotation, the nose gear contacted a grade of dirt with a loud bang. The instructor suspected possible damage and made the landing after returning to the airport. During landing, the aircraft veered left as the nose settled to the runway. However, the aircraft was controlled by using rudder. The pilot reported taxiing with little difficulty until the nose gear collapsed during a right turn.

Full Narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR ELECTED TO USE A 2800 TO 3200 FT ROAD AS A LANDING STRIP TO PRACTICE A LANDING AND TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD USED THE ROAD MANY TIMES BEFORE AND CONSIDERED IT AN IDEAL PRACTICE AREA. THE ROAD HAD BEEN RECENTLY GRADED, WAS LOCATED AWAY FROM POPULATED AREAS, AND WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 5300 FT. AFTER DEMONSTRATING AN OFF FIELD LANDING, THE INSTRUCTOR BEGAN A TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH. THE WIND WAS FROM 220 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. A SOFT FIELD TECHNIQUE WAS USED DURING THE FIRST 1/4 OF THE TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED REALIZING A MISTAKE AND SWITCHED TO A SHORT FIELD TECHNIQUE AND CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. DURING ROTATION, THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED A GRADE OF DIRT WITH A LOUD BANG. THE INSTRUCTOR SUSPECTED POSSIBLE DAMAGE AND MADE THE LANDING AFTER RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. DURING LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT AS THE NOSE SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONTROLLED BY USING RUDDER. THE PILOT REPORTED TAXIING WITH LITTLE DIFFICULTY UNTIL THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A RIGHT TURN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:50 MST
Nearest AirportAlbuquerque Intl. (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length5395 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN89963
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorKirkland Afb Aero Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-C2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 9 kt
Visibility60 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point11 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:50

Appendix: Source Data