20090831016969A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 152 · Merced, CA · August 31, 2009

Date: August 31, 2009 · 14:52 local
Place: Merced, CA
Airport: Castle
Phase of flight: Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: SRJS
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5155B
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR09CA430
Reported as: Cessna 152
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 50 total50 in this make and model50 in the last 90 days

N5155BRegistration cancelled Nov 28, 2012 · Cessna 152S/N 15283779 · Built 1979 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) Some up and down drafts were encountered by the student while on final approach to alternate runway 31, which he attempted to counter with pitch and power adjustments. He did not arrest a high sink rate prior to the first touchdown of the main wheels. Porpoising ensued with a resulting collapse of the nose wheel strut. He did not consider a go around as he thought he was experiencing flight instrument malfuntion.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) SOME UP AND DOWN DRAFTS WERE ENCOUNTERED BY THE STUDENT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO ALTERNATE RUNWAY 31, WHICH HE ATTEMPTED TO COUNTER WITH PITCH AND POWER ADJUSTMENTS. HE DID NOT ARREST A HIGH SINK RATE PRIOR TO THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE MAIN WHEELS. PORPOISING ENSUED WITH A RESULTING COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE WHEEL STRUT. HE DID NOT CONSIDER A GO AROUND AS HE THOUGHT HE WAS EXPERIENCING FLIGHT INSTRUMENT MALFUNTION.

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 WPR09CA430Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMerced, CAThe pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear strut.Aug 31, 2009 · Substantial damage