Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane exited the right hand edge of runway 10 at dupage airport shortly after touchdown in a strong crosswind condition. The student pilot made no corrections, for fear of flipping the airplane over. Reported winds seven minutes after the accident were from 050 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 1, 1995, at 1335 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N47331, registered to the DuPage Airport Authority of West Chicago, Illinois, and operated by a student pilot, exited runway 10 (4,751' x 75' dry/asphalt) at Dupage Airport, West Chicago, Illinois, and sustained substantial damage when it nosed over. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. A VFR flight plan was on file. The flight departed Peoria, Illinois, at 1206. The student pilot reported in his written statement that after a go around from his first approach, he encountered a crosswind condition on his second approach. He was concerned that a "violent" correction would flip the aircraft over. On roll out, the airplane exited the runway to the right, and nosed over after the nose landing gear sank into the mud. Seven minutes after the accident, DuPage Tower was reporting wind conditions, 050 degrees at 15 knots, gusts to 20 knots. -