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GAA19CA413

2019-06-23 · Clewiston, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2IS

Current FAA registration · N5096L

Make / Model
CESSNA 152
Year of manufacture
1980 · 39 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19800215
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A65E94

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's maneuver to the left to avoid striking birds during takeoff and his subsequent loss of directional control after aborting the takeoff and landing on soft, muddy grass adjacent to the runway during, which resulted in a nose-over.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that, during takeoff, a flock of birds crossed the runway from the right. He tried to climb and turn the airplane to the left to avoid striking the birds, but some of the birds continued in front of the airplane. The airplane drifted beyond the left side of the runway 10 to 15 feet above the grass. He aborted the takeoff, landed on the soft grass adjacent to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The student pilot further reported that, "the grass was so muddy that [it was] very hard to control the plane," and "too much friction made my airplane flip over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot reported that, during takeoff, a flock of birds crossed the runway from the right. He tried to climb and turn the airplane to the left to avoid striking the birds, but some of the birds continued in front of the airplane. The airplane drifted beyond the left side of the runway about 10 to 15 ft above ground level. He aborted the takeoff, landed on the soft grass adjacent to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The student added that, "the grass was so muddy that [it was] very hard to control the plane," and "too much friction made my airplane flip over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on operation - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Wet/muddy terrain-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA413.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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