Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's decision to initiate the takeoff with the airplane positioned near the left edge of the runway.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot, who was practicing touch-and-go landings in calm wind conditions, inadvertently landed near the left edge of the runway. During the landing roll, he did not correct back to the runway centerline. Soon after adding power for takeoff, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. By the time the pilot was able to bring the airplane to a stop, it had traveled about 900 feet over uneven terrain and the nose landing gear strut had collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. There was no evidence of any anomaly or malfunction in the airplane's nosewheel steering or rudder system.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA107 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 2, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington
- Nearest airport
- Bowers Field (KELN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N95606
- 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.