NTSB Factual Report

On July 26, 2002, about 0810 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N4893H, registered to Broward Aviation, Inc., operated by Black Pilots of America Summer Flight Academy, experienced a loss of directional control on landing, collided with a ditch, and then nosed over, at the Opa-Locka West Airport, Hialeah, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight last departed the Opa-Locka West Airport about 5 minutes earlier.

The flight initially departed the North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida, with a student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) on board, then proceeded to the Opa-Locka West Airport where the student performed touch-and-go landings. The CFI then deplaned and the student pilot departed on a solo flight remaining in the traffic pattern. The student pilot later reported that after touchdown he let the airplane roll before adding power. He then "slowly" added power and as the power increased, the airplane began drifting to the left. He applied right rudder input but the airplane continued drifting to the left. He reduced the power after recognizing that the airplane was departing the side of the runway where the airplane traveled into a ditch and nosed over.

The pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) who witnessed the accident reported seeing the pilot land the airplane on the runway centerline and he "greased it on." She then noted that the airplane drifted to the left onto grass and into a ditch where the airplane nosed over.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the on-ground collision with a ditch and subsequent nose over of the airplane.