# NTSB CHI99LA116: Cessna 152, N757MJ, Bloomington, IL, March 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 1999, 17:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IL - Coordinates: 40.469211, -88.940132 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4692&lon=-88.9401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45964 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45964/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged flare and inadvertent stall during landing. A factor was the pilot's inadequate remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - runway - Nose gear collapsed, landing - Nose over, landing ## Analysis In his written statement, the student pilot stated that he was practicing his soft field landing technique using runway 29 (6500 feet by 150 feet dry/concrete). He said that during the approach to landing, he flared the airplane too high, and he then increased power to recover, but the airplane banked to the left. The pilot stated that he landed hard on the left tire and that he applied full power to initiate an aborted landing. He said that during this time, the flaps were in the 30 degree down position. The pilot stated that the airplane then stalled, and the left wing struck the ground, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest in an inverted attitude. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 1999, at 1725 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 152, N757MJ, piloted by a student pilot, was destroyed during landing at the Bloomington-Normal Airport, Bloomington, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student pilot who was the sole occupant reported minor injuries. The flight originated at the Bloomington-Normal Airport for a local flight at 1650 cst. In his written statement, the student pilot stated that he was practicing his soft field landing technique using runway 29 (6500 feet by 150 feet dry/concrete). The pilot stated that, during the approach to landing, he flared the airplane too high. The pilot stated that he then increased power to recover but the airplane banked to the left. The pilot stated that he landed hard on the left tire and that he applied full power to initiate an aborted landing. The pilot stated that, during this time, the flaps were in the 30 degree down position. The pilot stated that the airplane then stalled and the left wing struck the ground, the nose gear then collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The aircraft came to rest in an inverted attitude. Post accident investigation of the aircraft revealed no pre-existing anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757MJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757MJ-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 15279846, built 1977 (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: 15279846 - Airframe hours: 7377 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Image Air Of Southwest Florida - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 1998, 102 hours before - Departed: BMI - Airport: BMI, Central Illinois Regional, runway 29, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 53 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BMI ## 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 19990322002589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990322002589A), Mar 22, 1999: Cessna 152, Bloomington-Nor, IL, Destroyed. Pilot was attempting soft landing for practice, stalled the left wing, was unable to recover, nose wheel hit the grass and aircraft flipped over. (.19) on… 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.