ATL96LA039

Factual narrative

On January 23, 1996, at 0849 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N65465, collided with the ground during a landing at Greenville Downtown Airport, Greenville, South Carolina. The aircraft was operated by the student pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local, solo flight, and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot received minor injuries, and the aircraft received substantial damage. The flight originated approximately 49 minutes prior to the accident from the same airfield. According to the pilot/operator aircraft accident report, the pilot "had difficulty lining up on the runway due to the effect of a strong quartering tailwind which existed above the surface." The aircraft ballooned during the flare, and the pilot executed a go-around. With full power and carburetor heat off, the pilot raised all 30 degrees of the flaps, and the aircraft settled. Next, the aircraft's nose was raised and it yawed to the left. The aircraft impacted the runway with the nose and the left wing first, approximately 90 degrees to the left of the runway. The student pilot was returning from a local solo flight and encountered a strong quartering tailwind on final approach. While he was landing the airplane, it ballooned. The pilot aborted the landing and performed a go-around. As he retracted the flaps for the go-around, the airplane stalled and collided with the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12