# NTSB ERA22LA432: Cessna 140, N2509N, Winterville, NC, September 28, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 28, 2022, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Winterville, NC - Coordinates: 35.482184, -77.355774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4822&lon=-77.3558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA432 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106024/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA432 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in an inability to recover the airplane from an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was high on the approach but he allowed her to continue as he determined the landing was achievable based on visual references and cues. The student performed the landing flare, the airplane “hit hard and bounced quite high,” and the airplane pitched nose up to about a 45-degree angle. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, pushed the nose downward and applied full engine power to recover from the “imminent stall.” The flight instructor explained that the airplane lacked the power, airspeed, and altitude to outclimb the trees to its front and continued to fly the airplane “right at stall speed” until it settled into an area of small trees and heavy brush beyond the departure end of the landing runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and wings, and minor injuries to the occupants. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2509N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2509N-2023-08-08), registration cancelled 2023-08-08, S/N 12766, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12766 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 4633.2 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pearce Cedric J - Registered owner: Pearce Cedric J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2022, 25.7 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 05N, South Oaks Aerodrome, runway 25, 1,850 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 73; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 3,523 total, 137 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; student; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 5.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KPGV, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KPGV 281955Z AUTO 01005KT 10SM CLR 23/05 A3013 RMK AO2= ## 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 20220928016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220928016509A), Sep 28, 2022: Cessna 140, Winterville, NC, Substantial damage. Student pilot was performing landing into 1850 ft grass strip, 05N, for a 3 point landing with the instructor onboard. On landing the aircraft bounced high and… ## Other investigations on N2509N (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA22LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA132), Feb 11, 2022: Cessna 140 (N2509N), New Bern, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of brake pressure on the left brake due to a failed O-ring seal. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106024. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15051938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15026795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Police report with statements (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15026534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Report%20with%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records annual inspection (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15026682&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annual%20Inspection_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15026835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.