# NTSB ATL96LA124: Cessna 152, N4982A, Waycross, GA, August 24, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1996, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Waycross, GA
- Coordinates: 31.209623, -82.349143 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2096&lon=-82.3491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3756
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3756/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA124

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During landing, the student pilot flared prematurely. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and became airborne. The student added power and pushed the nose over. The airplane then landed on the nose gear which collapsed.

## Factual narrative

On August 24, 1996, at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N4982A, collided with the runway during landing at Waycross-Ware County Airport, Waycross, Georgia. The student pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by American Flight Academy under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, solo flight. The flight originated from Waycross-Ware County Airport approximately 1030.

According to the operator's chief flight instructor, the student flared too high on landing, and the airplane bounced upon touchdown. As the airplane bounced, the student added engine power and pushed  the nose over. The airplane touched down on the nose gear first.  The nose tire was blown out, and the nose landing gear folded backward. As the airplane nosed up, the propeller struck the ground. The right wingtip also contacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest on the main landing gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4982A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4982A-2020-12-01), registration cancelled 2020-12-01, S/N A1520925, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna A152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a152) (registry code 2071836) (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: A1520925
- Airframe hours: 4478
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: American Flight Academy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1996, 83 hours before
- Departed: AYS
- Airport: AYS, Waycross-Ware County, runway 18, 5,230 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AMG, 18 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 19960824023949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960824023949A), Aug 24, 1996: Cessna A152, Waycross, GA, Substantial damage. Solo student flared too high. Bounced landing. Used forward yoke to stay down. Folded nose gear. Damaged wing.

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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