# NTSB CEN12CA277: Cessna 152, N94500, San Antonio, TX, May 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2012, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.336944, -98.471107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3369&lon=-98.4711&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 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- San Antonio Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 83567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83567/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83567 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA277 ## Probable cause The student pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare, which resulted in a hard/bounced landing and subsequent impact with the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot intended to practice takeoffs and landings at a nearby airport. On the first landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels and bounced. The nose landing gear subsequently impacted the runway, separating the nosewheel and landing gear strut. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and wing struts. The pilot noted that she had very little practice with straight-in approaches. In addition, she thought that using the traffic pattern to set up for the landing might have prevented the accident. The student pilot's logbook revealed that this was her second solo flight and the first time she traveled to the nearby airport without a flight instructor on board. She had logged a total of 1/2 hour of solo flight time prior to the accident flight. Several flights had been logged between the student pilot's home airport and the nearby airport with a flight instructor on board. The logbook contained a current solo endorsement and an endorsement for repeated solo flights between the airports involved. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot intended to practice takeoffs and landings at a nearby airport. On the first landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels and bounced. The nose landing gear subsequently impacted the runway, separating the nose wheel and landing gear strut. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and wing struts. The pilot noted that she had very little practice with straight-in approaches. In addition, she thought that using the traffic pattern to setup for the landing might have prevented the accident. The student pilot's logbook revealed that this was her second solo flight and the first time she traveled to the nearby airport without a flight instructor on-board. She had logged a total of 0.5 hours solo flight time prior to the accident flight. Several flights had been logged between the student pilot's home airport and the nearby airport with a flight instructor on-board. The logbook contained a current solo endorsement and an endorsement for repeated solo flight between the airports involved. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94500](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94500), registered now, S/N 15285692, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O235N2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o235n2c) (registry code 42166, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285692 - Airframe hours: 9376 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alpha Tango Flying Services Inc. - Registered owner: Laguna Verde Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 2012 - Departed: SAT, San Antonio, TX - Destination: SSF, San Antonio, TX - Airport: SSF, Stinson Municipal, runway 14, 1,428 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 32 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: SSF ## 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 20120501009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120501009919A), May 1, 2012: Cessna 152, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot flaired high and failed to go round or soften the touchdown. ## Other investigations on N94500 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI84LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA019), Oct 10, 1983: Cessna 152 (N94500), Elyria, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83567. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 985 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Information -- Operator (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Information%20--%20Operator-Master.PDF - Pilot Logbook (item 3, .PDF, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.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.