On August 31, 1994, a Cessna 152 (registration N64903) was involved in an aviation accident near Headland, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway and striking a hay bale. 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 student pilot lost control during a crosswind landing attempt, causing the aircraft to bounce off the runway and strike a hay bale before coming to rest.
What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was attempting a crosswind landing. During the final approach phase to the runway, the aircraft drifted significantly to the left side of the paved surface. The pilot attempted to correct the trajectory and land on the left portion of the runway, but the aircraft bounced upon contact. Following this bounce, the aircraft departed the runway environment to the left. After leaving the runway, the aircraft struck a bale of hay before finally coming to a complete stop.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the event was the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing. The drift off the runway centerline and the subsequent bounce indicated a loss of control during the critical landing phase. The impact with the hay bale was a direct result of the aircraft leaving the designated runway area.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway and striking a hay bale.