No fatalities

Student Pilot Nose-Over During Crosswind Landing (N25562)

Salinas, CA, US

On January 16, 2003, a Cessna 152 (registration N25562) operated by Squadron 2 was involved in an aviation accident near Salinas, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's inadequate compensation and his failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were wet and dirt terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 11 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

During landing rollout in a crosswind, a student pilot veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot attempted corrective actions but aborted, resulting in the nose wheel breaking off and the airplane coming to rest inverted.

Accident Sequence

During the landing roll on runway 13, the airplane encountered a crosswind, veered off the runway, and nosed over. The student pilot reported making a normal approach with 30 degrees of flaps and an airspeed of 65 knots, correcting for a small crosswind from the left. The right wheel touched down first, followed by the nose wheel. As the left wheel was about to contact the ground, a crosswind from the left lifted the left wing, causing the airplane to veer left.

Pilot Actions

The pilot attempted to correct the left turn by applying right rudder, right brake, and turning the ailerons to the left. Despite these inputs, the airplane continued turning left. The pilot noted that adding aileron increased the turn. He then decided to abort the landing and added full power, which further increased the left turn. The airplane departed the runway and headed toward a runway sign in a dirt area. To avoid the sign, the pilot added left rudder to complete the turn. Once the nose wheel contacted wet dirt, it dug in and broke off. The airplane came to rest inverted.

Mechanical Status

The student pilot stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Jan 2003 Cessna 152 accident near Salinas, CA?

During landing rollout in a crosswind, a student pilot veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot attempted corrective actions but aborted, resulting in the nose wheel breaking off and the airplane coming to rest inverted.

Were there any fatalities in the 16 Jan 2003 Cessna 152 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Jan 2003 involved a Cessna 152, registration N25562, operated by Squadron 2, at Salinas, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The student pilot's inadequate compensation and his failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were wet and dirt terrain.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030124X00106. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.