# NTSB ATL96LA033: Cessna 152, N93103, Fort Myers, FL, January 11, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1996, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Coordinates: 26.560611, -81.870666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5606&lon=-81.8707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3684/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA033

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper flare to touchdown.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The flight instructor stated that the student was conducting his third supervised solo flight.  The first two landings of the flight were uneventful.  During the third flare to touchdown, the airplane began porpoising, then collided with the ground, veered off the right side of the runway, and nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On January 11, 1996, at 0830 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N93103, nosed over during an attempted landing on runway 5 at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida.  The solo instructional flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed.  Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the student pilot was not injured.  The flight's initial departure time from Fort Myers was not determined.

The flight instructor stated that the student was conducting a supervised solo flight. The first two landings of the flight were uneventful, but on the third flare to touchdown, the airplane began porpoising. According to the student pilot, he was on  final approach and has aligned the airplane with the  runway. The airplane touched down center line, and he held the nosewheel off of the runway for a moment. When the nosewheel touched down on  the runway surface, the plane immediately went into a right skid. The airplane skidded off the right side of the runway and nosed over.

Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem; the student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93103](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93103-2010-10-13), registration cancelled 2010-10-13, S/N 15285403, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285403
- Airframe hours: 6275
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas Burke Mast
- Registered owner: Alternative Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 10, 1996, 4 hours before
- Departed: FMY
- Airport: FMY, Page Field, runway 5, 6,401 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11 total, 11 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 9° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY

## 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 19960111001409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960111001409A), Jan 11, 1996: Cessna 152, Ft Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Porpoised on landing. Skidded sideways. Exited runway. Nosed over.

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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