CHI99LA282

Factual narrative

On July 26, 1999, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68268, nosed over following a loss of directional control during the takeoff portion of a touch and go landing at the Bong Airport, Superior, Wisconsin. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated at approximately 1645 cdt. The student pilot reported that he completed three touch and go landings with a flight instructor prior to the instructor exiting the airplane. He stated he then completed four solo touch and go landings during which he began to "encounter heavier winds." He reported that following the fifth landing, as he applied power to initiate another takeoff, a gust of wind caught the airplane and it veered to the right. He reported he applied left rudder and the airplane turned abruptly to the left. The airplane continued off the runway where it contacted soft terrain and nosed over. The winds reported at Duluth, Minnesota, 12 miles northwest of the Bong Airport, 5 minutes prior to the accident, were from 320 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The student pilot made three touch and go landings on runway 31 with a flight instructor prior to the instructor exiting the airplane. The student then completed four solo touch and go landings during which he began to 'encounter heavier winds.' Following the fifth landing, as he applied power to initiate another takeoff, a gust of wind caught the airplane and it veered to the right. He reported that he applied left rudder and the airplane turned abruptly to the left. The airplane continued off the runway where it contacted soft terrain and nosed over. The winds reported at 12 miles northwest of the airport, 5 minutes prior to the accident, were from 320 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The student pilot had a total of 17 hours of flight experience. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12