Casualties unknown

Student Pilot Lands with Tail Wind on Wet Grass, Aircraft Flips Over After Hitting Fence (N47526)

Sedan, KS, US

On January 30, 1983, a Cessna 152 (registration N47526) was involved in an aviation accident near Sedan, KS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on a cross-country flight forgot to reset the directional gyro, then landed with a tail wind on a wet grass runway, leading to an overrun and flip.

Narrative

A student pilot was returning from a round-robin cross-country flight when he encountered clouds and diverted to Cushing, Oklahoma. After departing Cushing, he forgot to reset the directional gyro to correspond with the magnetic compass. When his planned 20-minute flight did not take him to his destination, he used two VOR stations to locate himself near Sedan, Kansas.

He flew around the airport and observed the wind sock. He then decided to land to the west; however, the wind sock was indicating wind from the east. He landed with a tail wind and touched down long on the wet grass runway. Reportedly, there was insufficient runway remaining by the time he touched down, and he was unable to stop in the remaining distance. The aircraft slid off the end of the runway, hit a fence, and flipped over.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Jan 1983 Cessna 152 accident near Sedan, KS?

A student pilot on a cross-country flight forgot to reset the directional gyro, then landed with a tail wind on a wet grass runway, leading to an overrun and flip.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 Jan 1983 involved a Cessna 152, registration N47526, at Sedan, KS.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X42070. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.