Cessna 152 accident near Shirley, New York, February 7, 2015
On February 7, 2015 at about 6:06 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 152, registered N5416B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Shirley, New York (Brookhaven 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 student pilot's initiation of the flare while too high above the runway, resulting in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing, and loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2015 · about 6:06 pm local time
- Place
- Shirley, New York · Brookhaven 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 1979 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5416B · registry record · serial 15283867
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he was performing takeoffs and landings in the local traffic pattern. While on short final, he flared too high, the airplane stalled, then landed hard and bounced. He attempted a go-around; however, the airplane veered to the left and struck a show bank. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the left wing and engine firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,144 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 3, 2014; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-235 SERIES (piston); 7,305 hours total
- Operator: Mid Island Air Svc INC
The flight
- Departed from: HWV Shirley NY at 5:45 pm
- Destination: HWV Shirley NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from HWV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 17, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation – Ferarra (FAA Inspector Statement) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memo for Record – Shirley, Ny Weather (Metars) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 – Front View of Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 – Left Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of Operator) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.