# Accident 20020917024889A: Cessna 152, El Cajon, CA, September 17, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 17, 2002, 15:35 local time - Place: El Cajon, CA - Airport: Gillespie Field Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 32.8261° N, 116.9725° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9725&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5100B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5100B-2004-04-28) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Pilot certificates: Student - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA289) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020917024889A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) A LOW TIME STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED ON A SOLO FLIGHT FROM GILLESPIE FIELD, HIS SECOND VFR LOCAL FLIGHT OF THE DAY. HE STATED THAT HIS APPROACH TO RWY 27L SEEMED HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND HE INCREASED HIS RATE OF DESCENT IN ORDER TO "MAKE THE RUNWAY". THE PILOT SELECTED FULL FLAPS DURING FINAL APPROACH. HE FLARED THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 5' TO 10' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED THEN BOUNCED TWICE (PORPOISING) BEFORE IT STRUCK HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR CAUSING IT TO SHEAR THE LOWER STRUT FROM ITS ATTACHING STRUCTURE. OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT CONSISTED OF A BENT PROPELLER, BUCKLING OF THE FIREWALL, AND OTHER MINOR SHEET METAL DAMAGE TO THE COWLING. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CURRENT INSPECTION STATUS. NO MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HARD LANDING. THE PILOT HAD THE PROPER CERTIFICATES THAT ALLOWED HIM TO SOLO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE INITIATED A "GO-AROUND" TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT. THIS REPORT IS NOT RELATED TO ANY PILOT DEVIATION OR NMAC REPORTED BY ATC. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HIS IS DISCONTINUING HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AND AND RETURNING TO HIS HOME IN THE U.K. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, ABOUT 1539 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 152, N5100B, LANDED HARD ON RUNWAY 27L AT GILLESPIE FIELD, EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED AND THE FIREWALL BUCKLED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 DURING THE SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. HE WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM EL CAJON AT 1445. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE CONCLUSION OF HIS PRACTICE FLIGHT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE EXTENDED THE WING FLAPS TO THE 30-DEGREES POSITION AND INITIATED THE APPROACH. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT WHILE LANDING HE "FLARED TOO HIGH," AND THEN THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE DROPPED. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX02LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA289), Sep 17, 2002: Cessna 152 (N5100B), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Other reports on N5100B (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19850211007269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850211007269I), Feb 11, 1985: Cessna 152 (N5100B), San Diego, CA. Engine ran rough on takeoff. Returned for landing nr 1 and nr 4 bottom spark plugs fouled. - [Incident 19840901055429I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840901055429I), Sep 1, 1984: Cessna 152 (N5100B), San Diego, CA, Minor damage. Student lost control on the landing roll. Veered off the runway and struck blocks at the wind tee segmented circle. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.