Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX89LA110

GREEN VALLEY, AZ, USA

Aircraft #1

N5496B

CESSNA 152

Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT INITIALLY REPORTED, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BIRD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUDDER CONTROL WAS NOT OPERATING AND DURING THE FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TRANSMISSION WIRE. IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE. THE PILOT THEN CHANGED HIS STORY AND STATED THAT HE COLLIDED WITH A PARACHUTIST. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF A MISSING PERSON OR INCIDENT IN THE AREA. THE PILOT THEN STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SOMETHING. A ROUND GOUGE WAS FOUND ON THE TOP ONE THIRD OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. THE STABILIZER WAS BENT SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT SIDE AND PARTIALLY JAMMED THE MOVEMENT OF THE RUDDER. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CARRYING A PASSENGER WHO STATED THAT HE WAS ASLEEP AND HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ACCIDENT THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE STUDENT PILOT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN NOT MAINTAINING PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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