Cessna 152 N96640

Summary

On 21 January 1999 at about 23:38 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N96640, operated by Westwind Aviation Academy, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 January 1999 at 23:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Phoenix-Deer Valley Muni (DVT)

Coordinates

33.6804, -112.0901

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N96640

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Westwind Aviation Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA079

Nobody was injured.

The CFI's loss of airplane control upon encountering a dust devil due to his improper in-flight decision to land in proximity to the observed adverse weather conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he decided to complete the instructional lesson with his 25-hour student pilot after flying in the local area and performing three touch-and-go landings. The CFI indicated that he observed a dust devil near the airport while on base leg, but its proximity to the airplane's planned course did not look close enough to result in his aborting the approach and landing. The CFI stated he believed that if he hurried up he could land before the dust devil became a factor. After landing without mishap, the crew turned off the runway and the dust devil contacted the airplane. Control was lost control and the airplane nosed over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.