Casualties unknown

1994-07-11: Cessna 152 (N93839) — Thermal, CA

Thermal, CA, US

On July 11, 1994, a Cessna 152 (registration N93839) was involved in an aviation accident near Thermal, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswind conditions during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over. 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 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a recent landing, the pilot did not adequately adjust for crosswind conditions, allowing the aircraft to drift left. The left main gear struck the runway edge, resulting in a nose-over incident with no reported mechanical issues.

What happened

The accident occurred during the final phase of flight as the aircraft was attempting to land. According to the operator's report, the pilot did not make sufficient adjustments to account for the prevailing crosswind conditions. This lack of compensation allowed the airplane to drift laterally toward the left side of the runway.

As the aircraft continued its descent and ground contact, the left main landing gear wheel struck the edge of the runway pavement. The impact with the hard surface caused the nose section of the aircraft to pitch forward violently, resulting in a nose-over position on the ground.

The investigation

Following the incident, the operator conducted an initial assessment of the aircraft's condition. They reported that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or system failures that contributed to the event. The damage was consistent with the described impact dynamics rather than any internal equipment failure.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswind conditions during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X01798. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.