NTSB Factual Report

On January 30, 2007, about 1547 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N25932, nosed over during a precautionary landing in an open field near Aptos, California. Nice Air, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The solo cross-country instructional flight departed Mesa Del Rey Airport (KIC), King City, California, about 1510, with a planned destination of San Jose, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 36 degrees 56 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 51 minutes west longitude.

The student pilot stated in a written report that this was his second solo cross-country flight. He became disoriented and scared after he had flown between two cloud layers, and was unable to see the ground. He descended into the clouds at 4,000 feet, and broke out of the clouds about 1,100 feet. He said he panicked and was having difficulty thinking clearly. He saw an open field, and elected to land. During the landing roll out the airplane nosed over.

The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's becoming lost and disoriented that resulted in an improper in-flight decision to make a precautionary landing in an unsuitable open field.