# NTSB DFW07CA063: Cessna 152, N83HT, Houston, TX, January 26, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 26, 2007, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 30.061666, -95.551666
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0617&lon=-95.5517&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Houston, Texas
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65213
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65213/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA063

## Probable cause

The pilot's encounter with porpoise following a hard landing and the 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
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing

## Analysis

The 40-hour solo student pilot did not recover from a bounced landing after the single-engine airplane porpoised following a hard landing on runway 17L (35 foot wide, 3,987 feet long, dry asphalt).  During landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, porpoised several times until the nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller contacted the runway.  An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported structural damage to the engine mounts and the engine firewall.

## Factual narrative

The 40-hour solo student pilot was unable to recover from a bounced landing after the single-engine airplane encounter porpoised following a hard landing on runway 17L.  The student pilot departed the airport and proceeded to the local practice area to practice some air work maneuvers.   After practicing several maneuvers, the student pilot elected to return to the airport to perform some touch and go landings.  The student pilot reported that air traffic control (ATC) gave her a conflicting instructions to enter the traffic pattern that were different from any previously received clearances.  While on final approach to runway 17L (a dry asphalt 3,978 foot-long by 35 foot-wide runway) the pilot became confused after she was instructed to change to another tower frequency.  The student pilot stated that she became "very nervous being a student pilot with instructions that seemed unsafe."  She added "I was also worried that I did not follow an instruction.  I felt very unsafe and just wanted to get on the ground."  During landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, porpoised several times until the nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller contacted the runway.  An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported structural damage to the engine mounts and the engine firewall.  Weather reported at the time of the accident was clear skies, wind from 130 degrees at 4 knots, and 30.17 inches of Mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83HT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83HT-2009-08-31), registration cancelled 2009-08-31, S/N 15284819, built 1980 (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: 15284819
- Airframe hours: 17742
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: High Tech Aviation
- Registered owner: M & D Aviation INC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DWH, Houston, TX
- Destination: DWH, Houston, TX
- Airport: KDWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial Air, runway 17L, 3,987 × 35 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg

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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