# NTSB ERA15CA126: Cessna 152, N5416B, Shirley, NY, February 7, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 7, 2015, 13:06 local (18:06 UTC)
- Place: Shirley, NY
- Coordinates: 40.821945, -72.866943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8219&lon=-72.8669&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 July 29, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90709/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90709
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA126

## Probable cause

The student pilot's initiation of the flare while too high above the runway, resulting in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing, and loss of directional 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 · 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)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [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-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after 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, he was performing takeoffs and landings in the local traffic pattern. While on short final, he flared too high, the airplane stalled, then landed hard and bounced. He attempted a go-around; however, the airplane veered to the left and struck a show bank. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the left wing and engine firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he was performing takeoffs and landings in the local traffic pattern. While on short final, he flared too high, the airplane stalled, then landed hard and bounced. He attempted a go-around; however, the airplane veered to the left and struck a show bank. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the left wing and engine firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5416B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5416B), registered now, S/N 15283867 (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: 15283867
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 13144
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mid Island Air Svc Inc
- Registered owner: Mid Island Air Svc Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 2014, 56 hours before
- Departed: HWV, Shirley, NY
- Destination: HWV, Shirley, NY
- Airport: HWV, Brookhaven Airport, runway 24, 4,200 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 61 total, 60 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: HWV

## 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 20150207003369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150207003369A), Feb 7, 2015: Cessna 152, Shirley, NY, Substantial damage. Student pilot ,PIC, stated that he planned to fly the pattern on runway 24 at Brookhaven (khwv) airport. The pilot states that on the second landing he flared…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90709. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 850 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation – Ferarra (FAA Inspector Statement) (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Ferarra%20(FAA%20Inspector%20Statement)-Master.PDF
- Memo for Record – Shirley, NY Weather (METARS) (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Shirley,%20NY%20Weather%20(METARS)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Front View of Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Front%20View%20of%20Aircraft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Left Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 5, .PDF, 903 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.

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