# NTSB CEN11CA344: Cessna 152, N6238P, Carbondale, IL, May 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2011, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Carbondale, IL - Coordinates: 37.778057, -89.251945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7781&lon=-89.2519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79135 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA344 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79135/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79135 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA344 ## Probable cause The student pilot's relinquishing of the flight controls during the landing flare and the flight instructor's delay in taking remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the student pilot had failed the Private Pilot check ride the previous week and that the accident flight was a flight review for the student. The student pilot performed a go-around on the first landing attempt because the airplane was too high on the final landing approach. On the final leg during the second approach, the airplane was on the proper glideslope and at the appropriate airspeed. The airplane was left of centerline and about 5 feet above the runway when the student pilot initiated the flare. The CFI reported that the student pilot suddenly relinquished the flight controls without warning, and the CFI attempted to salvage the landing. The student pilot reported that he relinquished the controls to the CFI and stated, “Your controls.” The right wing tip contacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to two ribs in the outboard section of the wing. The CFI did not recognize that the wing tip struck the runway, so the flight returned to the departure airport. The damage to the wing was discovered during the postflight inspection of the airplane. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the student pilot had failed the Private Pilot check ride the previous week, and that the accident flight was a flight review for the student pilot. The CFI reported that the student pilot performed the ground reference maneuvers and "lost" procedures within the Private Pilot standards. The student pilot performed a go-around on the first landing attempt because the airplane was too high on final. On the final leg during the second approach, the airplane was on and airspeed. The airplane was left of centerline and about 5 feet above the runway when the student pilot initiated the flare. The CFI reported that the student pilot suddenly relinquished the flight controls without warning, and the CFI attempted to "salvage" the landing. The student pilot reported that he relinquished the controls to the CFI and stated, "Your controls." The right wingtip contacted the runway which resulted in substantial damage to two ribs in the outboard section of the wing. The CFI did not recognize that the wingtip struck the runway, so the flight returned to the departure airport. The damage to the wing was discovered during the postflight inspection of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6238P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6238P-2018-02-20), registration cancelled 2018-02-20, S/N 15284990, 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: 15284990 - Airframe hours: 11241 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-235-N2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Illinois University Board Of Trustees DBA - Registered owner: Southern Illinois University Board Of Trustees DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MDH, Carbondale, IL - Destination: MDH, Carbondale, IL - Airport: PJY, Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Airport, runway 36, 4,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 1,036 total, 510 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 46 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: MDH, 13 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 20110517008399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110517008399A), May 17, 2011: Cessna 152, Pickneyville, IL, Substantial damage. During landing flare, in a crosswind, the right wing tip struck the ground after the student pilot let go of the controls. The instructor took control of the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79135. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348874&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. --- 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.