# NTSB CEN26LA229: Cessna 152, N191FS, Carbondale, IL, June 16, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 16, 2026, 14:38 UTC - Place: Carbondale, IL - Coordinates: 37.784651, -89.24804 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7847&lon=-89.2480&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203194/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203194 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA229 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action during the student pilot’s miscalculated landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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) - [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: 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 flight instructor reported that she and the student pilot were on an instructional flight and planned to stay in the airport traffic pattern. As the student flew the airplane and set the airplane up for the first landing, the airplane was high on final approach. The student decreased the power and the descent rate increased. When the airplane was over the runway, the student completely reduced the power and began to flare. The airplane landed hard on the runway and then bounced. The flight instructor intended to perform a go-around but then the nose landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the tunnel structure aft of the engine and firewall. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N191FS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N191FS), registered now, S/N 15285939, built 1984 (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: 15285939 - Year built: 1984 - Airframe hours: 14921.5 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Illinois Board of Trustees DBA - Registered owner: Southern Illinois Board of Trustees DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2026, 90 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MDH, Southern Illinois, runway 18L, 6,506 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; medical: class 1; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22 total, 10 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 345 total, 131 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KMDH - METAR: KMDH 161352Z 19006KT 10SM CLR 23/15 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02280150 ## 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 20260616007749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260616007749A), Jun 16, 2026: Cessna 152, Carbondale, IL, Substantial damage. On June 16, 2026, at 1438 zulu time, a Southern Illinois university (siu) student pilot and flight instructor experienced a hard landing on runway 18L at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203194. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20915942&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA229%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 633 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20916102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.