# NTSB ATL88LA126: Cessna 152, N68726, Charleston, SC, April 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1988, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, SC
- Coordinates: 32.779705, -79.929298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7797&lon=-79.9293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7726/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA126

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT RPTD THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW ON FINAL APPCH, AND THAT HE APPLIED PWR TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AFTER CROSSING THE RWY THRESHOLD, HE REDUCED THE PWR TO IDLE & LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. HE INITIATED A FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE, AND THE NOSE LDG GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY SKIDDED OFF OF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT HAD APPROX 14 HRS OF SOLO EXPERIENCE AND WAS ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68726](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68726-1989-03-20), registration cancelled 1989-03-20, S/N 15282339 (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: 15282339
- Airframe hours: 4085
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charleston Afb Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: CHS, CHARLESTON AFB, SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: JZI, Charleston Executive, runway 9, 5,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHS, 12 nm away

## 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 19880401009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880401009629A), Apr 1, 1988: Cessna 152, Charleston, SC, Substantial damage. Landed hard, nose low, bounced and porpoised. Nose gear collapsed. Aircraft skidded off runway.

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.

---
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.