Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX92FA067

VENTURA, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N69028

CESSNA 152

Analysis

A CESSNA 152 COLLIDED WITH SLOPING TERRAIN WHILE ON AN INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT LESSON ADMINISTERED TO A TO A PROSPECTIVE PILOT BY A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN A STEEP CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCEND VERTICALLY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. ONE EYE WITNESS DESCRIBED THE ENGINE NOISE AS LOUD WITHOUT SPUTTERING OR STOPPING. THE WITNESS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE TRAILING SMOKE AS IT DESCENDED. THE WRECKAGE WAS DESTROYED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. THE CFI WAS CERTIFIED ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ACCRUED ABOUT 169 FLIGHT HOURS AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION NOTED DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND TO RECOVER FROM AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT SPECIFICALLY AN EXCESSIVE ANGLE OF ATTACK WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED AIRSPEED AND SUBSEQUENT STALL.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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