On October 4, 1990, a Cessna 152 (registration N4594B) was involved in an aviation accident near Kearny, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the landing roll, resulting in a runway overrun and subsequent collision with a lake. 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.
A light aircraft landed too fast on a short runway, overran the end, and sank into a small lake. Both occupants successfully extricated themselves and swam to shore without injury.
What happened
According to the pilot's written statement, the aircraft touched down at an excessive speed, resulting in a landing that was too fast for the available runway length. The pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a stop before reaching the end of the 1,665-foot-long runway.
The aircraft continued its momentum past the paved surface and ran off the departure end of the runway. It then collided with a small lake located adjacent to the airfield. Upon impact with the water, the aircraft sank immediately. Despite the rapid submersion, both occupants successfully extricated themselves from the wreckage. They swam to shore without sustaining injuries.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the landing roll, resulting in a runway overrun and subsequent collision with a lake.