# NTSB CEN25LA134: Cessna 152, N68332, Denton, TX, March 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 20, 2025, 15:56 local (20:56 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX · Airport - Coordinates: 33.201961, -97.199097 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2020&lon=-97.1991&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA134 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind and windshear during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); 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) - [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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a full stop landing to runway 36R in a gusty crosswind and light-to-moderate turbulence. While the airplane was on the base leg in the traffic pattern, another pilot transmitted over the tower frequency that they had a 10 knot windshear while over the runway during their takeoff. The tower controller asked the pilot if she heard the other pilot’s transmission about windshear over the runway. The pilot acknowledged the potential for windshear, increased her approach speed, and continued with the landing approach. The pilot reported that the airplane remained on a stable landing approach until a few feet above the runway when the airplane landed hard before she began the landing flare. The airplane bounced and then began to porpoise on the runway. The nose landing gear struck the runway at least 3 times before the pilot increased engine power for a go-around. However, as she increased the engine power, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid nose down to a stop on the runway. Several engine mount tubes fractured when the nose landing gear collapsed aft. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, she reported that the wind conditions at the time of the accident exceeded her personal limitations and that the accident could have been prevented had she began the go-around after the first bounced landing. Recorded wind at the time of the accident was 340° at 12 knots gust to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68332](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68332), registered now, S/N 15285326, 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: 15285326 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 13678 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: US Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Wings Over Texas Holdings, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2024, 821.7 hours before - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Destination: DTO, Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise Airport, runway 36R, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 234.1 total, 200.7 in this make and model, 135.6 as pilot in command, 18.8 in the last 90 days, 11.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KDTO - METAR: METAR KDTO 202053Z 34012G19KT 10SM CLR 17/M03 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP251 T01671028 56034= ## 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 20250320013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250320013029A), Mar 20, 2025: Cessna 152, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. On March 20, 2025 at 1550L, an airplane was attempting to land on runway 36R at Denton regional airport (dto). During final approach the aircraft touched down… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199905. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19589002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane logbooks (excerpts) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19588916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Annual%20Inspection%20(Airframe-Engine-Propeller)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Meteorological data (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19588712&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Meteorological%20Data-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 498 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19588234&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.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.