# NTSB DEN08CA047: Cessna 152, N24965, Loveland, CO, January 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 2, 2008, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Loveland, CO - Coordinates: 40.451667, -105.001113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4517&lon=-105.0011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67335/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA047 ## Probable cause the student pilot's premature flare resulting in the loss of aircraft control. ## 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 specified (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) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot she flared too early, ballooned, and impacted the runway. She stated that when she impacted the runway, she was not aligned with the centerline and the airplane departed the runway to the left. The airplane slid into the snow, resulting in substantial damage. The student reported no anomalies with the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, she was on her first solo flight. During the last landing to runway 15 (8,500 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) she "flared too early", ballooned, and impacted the runway. She stated that when she impacted the runway, she was not aligned with the centerline and the airplane departed the runway to the left. The airplane slid into the snow. Postaccident examination revealed both wing spars were bent up and the propeller was bent. The student reported no anomalies with the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24965](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24965-2014-09-22), registration cancelled 2014-09-22, S/N 15280476, 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: 15280476 - Airframe hours: 5835.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Colorado Contrails - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007 - Departed: KFNL, Loveland, CO - Destination: KFNL, Loveland, CO - Airport: FNL, Fort Collins Loveland, runway 15, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 4 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KFNL, 1 nm away ## 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 20080102000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080102000129A), Jan 2, 2008: Cessna 152, Fort Collins/L, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing touch and goes, aircraft bounced once and then landed. Student pilot lost control of the aircraft and exited the runway, impacting a… 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.