Probable cause
The flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the student pilot which resulted in an impact with terrain and a nose-over.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor reported that, while on final approach to land, he noticed that the student pilot had allowed the airplane’s airspeed to decay. In an effort to correct for the decaying airspeed he assumed control and pitched the airplane down to no avail. The airplane impacted short of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC22LA026 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 28, 2022
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Merrill Field Airport (MRI)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N915AA
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1977
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.