# NTSB ERA12CA178: Cessna 152, N67973, Miami, FL, February 10, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 10, 2012, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.647777, -80.432777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6478&lon=-80.4328&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82885 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82885/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82885 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA178 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing. ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting his second solo flight. He reported that he felt the wind shift to a light tailwind just prior to landing on runway 27L, and, when the airplane touched down, it bounced and became airborne again. During the subsequent touchdown, the airplane landed hard, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. In addition, the propeller and left wing contacted the ground. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported 29 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours of solo flight time, all in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 160 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was conducting his second solo flight. He reported that he felt a wind-shift to a light tailwind just prior to landing on runway 27L, and when the airplane touched down, it became airborne again. During the subsequent touchdown, the airplane landed hard and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. In addition, the propeller and left wing contacted the ground. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported 29 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours of solo flight time, all in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 160 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67973](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67973), registered now, S/N 15282121, built 1978 (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: 15282121 - Airframe hours: 6480 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Lily Aviation Corp. - Registered owner: Lily Aviation Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 30, 2011, 84 hours before - Departed: X51, Homestead, FL - Destination: TMB, Miami, FL - Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami, runway 27L, 4,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: TMB ## 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 20120210001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120210001229A), Feb 10, 2012: Cessna 152, Tamiami, FL, Substantial damage. Airman was returning from X51, 2nd solo. Airman entered left downwind runway 27L. A speci weather report was issued by ATC, winds 160/07. Light rain was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82885. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 732 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - TMB Airport Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=TMB%20Airport%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 – Left side of airplane after recovery to a hangar. (item 3, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20side%20of%20airplane%20after%20recovery%20to%20a%20hangar.-Master.PDF 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.