# NTSB ATL86LA036: Cessna 152, N44687, Hickory, NC, December 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1985, 15:32 local (20:32 UTC)
- Place: Hickory, NC
- Location: 35.7411° N, 81.3896° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HICKORY RGNL (HKY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7411&lon=-81.3896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86LA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7042/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA036

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. IN HIS REPORT THE STUDENT SAID HE FLEW A LONG FINAL WITH THE VASI SHOWING A PROPER DESCENT ANGLE. THE ACFT WAS LANDED WITH A SHALLOW FLARE TOUCHING DOWN IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. IT BOUNCED, BOUNCED AGAIN, AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. STUDENT RECOMMENDED MORE INSTRUCTION IN LANDINGS AND RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44687](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44687-1997-02-20), registration cancelled 1997-02-20, S/N 15285674 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285674
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Catawba Valley Aviation
- Registered owner: James O Mitchell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 1985
- Departed: RDU, RALEIGH, NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: HKY, Hickory Muni, runway 19, 4,399 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851206061089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851206061089A), Dec 6, 1985: Cessna 152, Hickory, NC, Substantial damage. Student bounced on landing during solo crosscountry. Nose gear collapsed as aircraft recontacted the runway.

## Other investigations on N44687 (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 FTW94LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA284), Aug 29, 1994: Cessna 152 (N44687), Arkadelphia, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

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.

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