# NTSB CEN10CA137: Cessna 152, N6503M, Hearne, TX, March 4, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 4, 2010, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Hearne, TX
- Coordinates: 30.869722, -96.61972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8697&lon=-96.6197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75441/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75441
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA137

## Probable cause

The student pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind and his improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot attempted to land with a right quartering tailwind. Unable to land during the first two attempts, the pilot elected to go around the pattern for a third attempt. During the landing flare the airplane’s nosewheel impacted the runway first and the airplane began to bounce. Shortly thereafter, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright and in a nose-low position. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s flight controls were reported. An examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained structural damage during the accident.

## Factual narrative

While on a solo cross country flight, the student pilot attempted to land with a right quartering tailwind. Unable to land during the first two attempts the pilot elected to go around the pattern for a third attempt. During the landing flare the airplane’s nose wheel impacted the runway first and the airplane began to bounce. Shortly thereafter, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright and in a nose low position. No mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s flight controls were reported. An examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained structural damage during the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6503M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6503M), registered now, S/N 15284759, built 1980 (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: 15284759
- Airframe hours: 8624
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: American Educational Complex
- Registered owner: American Educational Complex
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2010
- Departed: ILE, Killeen, TX
- Destination: LHB, Hearne, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LHB, Hearne Municiple, runway 36, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: LHB

## 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 20100304028419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100304028419A), Mar 4, 2010: Cessna 152, Hearne, TX, Substantial damage. Landed in extreme nose down condition. Upon landing nose wheel colapsed aft and propeller struck the runway.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75441. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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