# NTSB DEN89LA039: Cessna 152, N4782B, Watkins, CO, December 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1988, 11:58 local (18:58 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.750766, -104.599456 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7508&lon=-104.5995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17646/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA039

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS DURING AN UNSUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. RUNWAY 26 WAS IN USE, WITH WINDS REPORTED AS 320 DEG AT 5 KTS. AT THE FIRST LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN NOSE FIRST, THIRTY FEET LEFT OF THE CENTER LINE. THE ACFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND TOUCHED DOWN THE SECOND TIME, NOSE FIRST. THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT INTO SOFT DIRT. THE ACFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4782B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4782B-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 15283632, built 1979 (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: 15283632
- Airframe hours: 5496
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Flight Line, Inc.
- Registered owner: Michael H Rider & Jay Hickox
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 23, 1988, 789 hours before
- Departed: 1W1
- Destination: 1W1
- Airport: 1W1, Front Range, runway 26, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19881204053909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881204053909A), Dec 4, 1988: Cessna 152, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Landed hard,bounced,came down on nose wheel and destroyed the wheel then nosed over. Anxiety and skill are factors.

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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