Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's improper use of the throttle control.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was on a solo cross-country flight and was landing at his planned destination. During the landing flare, he added engine power to help arrest the rate of descent, but after making a smooth successful touchdown, he forgot to reduce the engine power back to idle. With significantly greater than idle power being produced by the engine, the pilot lost directional control during his attempt to slow the airplane. The airplane veered off the runway and impacted a wall of boulders that had been erected as a barrier.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for SEA08CA198 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 13, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Columbia, California
- Nearest airport
- Columbia Airport (O22)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N24342
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.