# NTSB FTW00LA238: Cessna 152, N4711L, Wichita Falls, TX, August 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2000, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Wichita Falls, TX - Coordinates: 33.859668, -98.490142 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8597&lon=-98.4901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA238 ## Probable cause The student pilot's delayed landing flare and failure to recover from the ensuing bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The student pilot attempted to land on runway 17 with 20 degrees of flaps. According to the pilot, during the landing, the nose landing gear touched the runway first, 'causing the aircraft to bounce.' The airplane bounced a second time, and 'then on contact with the runway the third time, the nose gear collapsed.' Subsequently, the airplane skidded to the left edge of the runway, and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that he was never made aware of how to recover from a bounced landing. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2000, at 0945 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N4711L, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Kickapoo Downtown Airpark, Wichita Falls, Texas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo flight. The local flight departed the Kickapoo Airpark at 0900. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 26-hour pilot stated that he attempted to land on runway 17 with 20 degrees of flaps. He reported that the wind was from the south-southwest at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 knots. During the landing, "the nose gear touched the runway first, causing the aircraft to bounce." The airplane bounced a second time, "then on contact with the runway the third time, the nose gear collapsed," structurally damaging the firewall. Subsequently, the airplane skidded to the left edge of the runway, and came to rest upright. In the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section, the pilot reported that he was "never made aware of the method to recover from this situation. I should have been instructed regarding a bounced landing." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4711L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4711L), registered now, S/N 15284223, 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: 15284223 - Airframe hours: 8065 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Barbara Huffman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2000, 51 hours before - Departed: T47 - Airport: T47, Kickapoo Downtown Airpark, runway 17, 4,216 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 20000821043879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000821043879A), Aug 21, 2000: Cessna 152, Wichita Falls, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Bear, a student pilot had returned from the practice area to do touch and go landings at T47. On his third landing he landed hot and on the nose… 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.