# Accident 20090831016969A: Cessna 152, Merced, CA, August 31, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2009, 14:52 local time
- Place: Merced, CA
- Airport: Castle
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: SRJS
- Location: 37.3806° N, 120.5681° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3806&lon=-120.5681&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5155B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5155B-2012-11-28) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09CA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA430) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090831016969A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## 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 WPR09CA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA430), Aug 31, 2009: Cessna 152 (N5155B), Merced, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear strut.

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.

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