20030407004049A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 152 · Butte, MT · April 7, 2003

Date: April 7, 2003 · 15:45 local
Place: Butte, MT
Airport: Bert Mooney
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N48733
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA03LA057
Reported as: Cessna 152
Reported engine: Lycoming O235L2C
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 19 total19 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N48733Registration cancelled Feb 13, 2004 · Cessna 152S/N 15280942 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna 152 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Solo student pilot stated he ballooned on flare due to gust of wind, and overcorrected with nose-down control input, causing hard landing, nose wheel first. Nose wheel broke off, fuel leak resulted in fire. Aircraft destroyed. Student pilot suffered minor injury.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) SOLO STUDENT PILOT STATED HE BALLOONED ON FLARE DUE TO GUST OF WIND, AND OVERCORRECTED WITH NOSE-DOWN CONTROL INPUT, CAUSING HARD LANDING, NOSE WHEEL FIRST. NOSE WHEEL BROKE OFF, FUEL LEAK RESULTED IN FIRE. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. STUDENT PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA03LA057Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportButte, MTThe pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty variable wind conditions and his improper flare. Factors include gusty and variable winds .Apr 7, 2003 · Destroyed

Other reports on N48733 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19861003059819IForced/Precautionary Landing · San Diego, CATotal power loss after takeoff. Safe landing. Recent history of unexplained power loss.Oct 3, 1986