NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR20CA222
Registry · N530CA
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CESSNA 152
Year of manufacture
1977 · 43 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19770615
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A6B0A0
Registrant of record
CAVALAIR LLC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in the left wing striking the runway.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that the private pilot, who had not flown for a long time, was receiving instruction to become current. After accomplishing flight maneuver training, they returned to the airport for the pilot to practice landings. During the flare for the third landing, with the private pilot on the controls, the left wing was pushed downward and struck the ground when the airplane encountered a wind gust. The pilot subsequently landed and taxied off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing rear spar. The flight instructor added that, if he had positioned his hands on or very near the controls during the landing, the accident could have been prevented. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the private pilot, who had not flown for a long time, was receiving instruction to become current. After accomplishing flight maneuver training, they returned to the airport for the pilot to practice landings. During the flare for the third landing, with the private pilot on the controls, the left wing was pushed downward and struck the ground when the airplane encountered a wind gust. The pilot subsequently landed and taxied off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing rear spar. The flight instructor added that, if he had positioned his hands on or very near the controls during the landing, the accident could have been prevented. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
- — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2020_WPR20CA222.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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Related research
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Academic papers and agency reports matching this event's aircraft type. Sourced from NASA NTRS, NTSB Safety Studies, FAA CAMI, AOPA Air Safety Institute, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons, arXiv, and the Semantic Scholar academic graph.
- NASA NTRS 2021 · Poster
Sleep, Sleepiness, and Performance Across Three In-Flight Bunk Rest Opportunities
Introduction: Airline pilots are required to take a rest break in a bunk during long-haul flights in an effort to reduce sleepiness during critical phases of flight.
- Semantic Scholar 2020 · Article (Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy)
Routine opioid outcome monitoring in community pharmacy: Outcomes from an open-label single-arm implementation-effectiveness pilot study.
BACKGROUND In response to rising harms with prescription opioids, recent attention has focused on how to better utilise community pharmacists to monitor outcomes with opioid medicines.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2011 · Journal article (JAAER)
System Safety Study: Pedagogical Aviation Action Research
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