Cessna 152 accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, October 23, 2021
On October 23, 2021 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna 152, registered N94400, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Wadsworth, Ohio (Skypark 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the final approach resulting in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2021 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Skypark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, built 1982 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94400 · registry record · serial 15285663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported he was conducting a solo traffic pattern flight and was on final approach for landing from his first traffic pattern when he lost control of the airplane at 50 ft, rounded out and impacted the runway on the nose wheel. The airplane subsequently bounced and impacted the runway again collapsing the nose wheel and allowing the left wing to impact in the grass next to the runway. The airplane then skidded off the left side of the runway and came to rest in the grassy area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the top inboard left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor pilot reported that he and the student pilot had completed four successful landings prior to the instructor getting out of the airplane for the student pilot’s solo traffic pattern flight. He reported that the student pilot’s approach was stable, but upon landing the airplane seemed to be out of control.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 65 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skypark INC
The flight
- Departed from: 15G Wadsworth OH at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 2,410 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from KCAK, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCAK 231851Z 25007KT 10SM FEW027 FEW040 OVC055 12/05 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP165 T01170050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN22LA022.