- Date
- March 25, 1994, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Dubuque, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N89761Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940325000419A
- Case key
- 9498
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. The student pilot's lack of total flight experience was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The solo student pilot stated he was high and fast on final approach to the runway. He reported when he flared he felt the airplane climb, so he pushed the yoke forward. He stated the airplane hit the runway hard so he pulled back on the yoke. When the student pilot pushed the yoke forward again, the nose gear impacted the runway and collapsed. The student pilot reported 21.3 hours total flight time, including 1.5 hours as pilot in command.
Factual narrative
On March 25, 1994, at 1515 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N89761, operated as an instructional flight by the University of Dubuque, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down after a bounced, hard landing at Dubuque, Iowa. 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 Dubuque, Iowa, approximately 1440.
The student pilot stated he returned from a solo flight in the local practice area, intending to practice touch and go landings at Dubuque. He entered the downwind leg for runway 31 and was cleared for "touch and go." He reported he extended his traffic pattern because he was unable to locate the traffic he was supposed to follow. The student pilot was high and fast on final approach to the runway. He stated he "...tried to flare but...I felt the airplane wanting to climb. I then put the yoke forward so I could get closer to the runway....the airplane hit the runway hard so I pulled back on the yoke....As I pulled back the wheels hit against the runway....I thought I would push the nose forward....But, when I pushed forward the nose wheel hit the runway and snapped... ." The student pilot reported 21.3 hours total flight time, including 1.5 hours as pilot in command.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89761
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15282856
- Airframe hours
- 6,515
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Greenawalt, Tom F., Trustee, doing business as University Of Dubuque
- Registered owner
- Greenawalt, Tom F.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 15, 1993 · 80 hours before
- Airport
- DBQ · Dubuque Regional, runway 31, 6,498 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 18
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 21 total · 21 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DBQ
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.