Primary finding
Probable cause
failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during a touch-and-go landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve, an encounter with soft terrain, and a nose over. The sudden gust of wind was a related factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during a touch-and-go landing, he encountered a sudden gust of wind and lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane then departed the runway laterally, went into soft dirt, and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 23, 1997, at 1132 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89257, was substantially damaged when it departed runway 29R and nosed over during a touch-and-go landing at Zamperini Airport, Torrance, California. There were no injuries to the solo student pilot or ground personnel, and no damage to ground facilities. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that a sudden gust of wind just prior to becoming airborne caused the airplane to veer to the left, after which he lost directional control and departed the runway laterally into soft dirt. He also stated that there was no malfunction of the aircraft or its engine. -