Frasca Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Urbana, Illinois 61801
Sunday, December 27, 1998 11:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot was on final approach to the runway. The airplane was stabilized at 65 knots descending through 20 to 50 feet agl, with a 20 knot headwind, when the student pilot suddenly pushed the control yoke full forward. The instructor pilot reacted by pulling the yoke back to raise the nose of the airplane, and adding power. The airplane was too close to the ground to recover, and impacted in a slight nose up attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot not maintaining the proper descent rate on final approach, and the certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City URBANA
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61801
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FRASCA FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C16
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 735
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 207
Weather Observation Facility ID CMI
Elevation of weather observation facility 754
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1093
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 27 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1258
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5527L
NTSB Number CHI99LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 152284338
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 19 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 7188
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRASCA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 906 E. AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City URBANA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code C16
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2546
Runway Width 140
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --