NTSB Factual Report

On November 21, 2001, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N58ND, was substantially damaged during landing on runway 27, at the Brandywine Airport (N99), West Chester, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. He stated that during the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he felt the airplane was "being pulled" to the left. As the airplane touched down on the runway, it veered off the left side, crossed a grass area, and stopped short of an aircraft hangar.

The pilot reported that he checked the windsock prior to takeoff and again before landing, and it indicated wind out of the southwest at about 5-7 knots. He stated that he normally corrected for a crosswind by "flying the airplane into the wind." He also stated that the airplane veered off the runway as he was repositioning his feet from the rudder pedals to the brake pedals.

The pilot reported 115 hours of total flight time, 94 hours of which were in make and model.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the landing gear nose wheel, both wingtips, and the firewall. The FAA inspector did not observe any mechanical deficiencies.

The winds reported at Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 nautical miles to the east, at 1454, were from 230 degrees at 10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. A factor was the crosswind.