Cessna 152 accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1993
On March 3, 1993 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4705Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania (Capital City airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TAILWIND AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1993 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- New Cumberland, Pennsylvania · Capital City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4705Q · registry record · serial 15285053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON TOUCHDOWN ON THE ASSIGNED RUNWAY 30, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO VEER RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY'S CENTERLINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INPUT LEFT RUDDER, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN THE SAME DIRECTION UNTIL IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WHEEL ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE COMING FROM 070 AT 5 KNOTS. SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE AT LEAST 5 KNOTS HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS OFFICIALLY BEING REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE AIRPLANE STATED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS SECTION OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT, 'THAT CONTROL TOWER TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO CHANGE LANDING (ASSIGNED) RUNWAY TO COINCIDE WITH WIND DIRECTION.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,190 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 1993; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Clark Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,895 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:05 pm from CXY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4705Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.