# NTSB CHI94LA115: Cessna 152, N2MS, Wheeling, IL, March 17, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1994, 14:02 local (20:02 UTC)
- Place: Wheeling, IL
- Coordinates: 42.129043, -87.919555 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1290&lon=-87.9196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9491
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9491/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA115

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED HE FLARED TOO HIGH, THEN STARTED TO DRIFT.  HE PUSHED THE NOSE FORWARD, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST AND BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR.  THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED WHEN HE TRIED TO RECOVER, THE AIRPLANE 'STALLED' AND DROPPED ABRUPTLY TO THE GROUND. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED 30 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING 2 HOURS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS.

## Factual narrative

On March 17, 1994, at 1402 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N2MS, piloted by a student pilot on a solo instructional flight, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing while practicing touch and go landings on Runway 12L at Palwaukee Airport (PWK), in Wheeling, Illinois.  The student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed.  The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Wheeling, approximately 1345.

The student pilot stated everything looked fine to him during the approach, but he flared too high.  He reported the airplane began to drift off the left side of the runway, so he pushed the nose down to get the airplane on the ground.  The airplane impacted the ground nose first, then bounced and became airborne again.  The student pilot reported he tried to recover and reestablish the airplane in a flare.  The airplane "stalled" and dropped abruptly to the ground.  The student pilot reported about 30 hours total flight experience, of which 2 hours were in the preceding 90 days.   A record of conversation with the FAA Inspector is appended.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2MS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2MS), registered now, S/N 152-82011, built 1978 (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: 15282011
- Airframe hours: 3166
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Sundmacher, Marjorie M.
- Registered owner: Sundmacher, Marjorie M.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1993, 62 hours before
- Airport: PWK, Palwaukee, runway 12, 4,397 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PWK

## 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 19940317005619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940317005619A), Mar 17, 1994: Cessna 152, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. Landed nose first. Bounced flared too high. Stalled. Dropped to runway. Failed to go around.

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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