# NTSB FTW03LA127: Cessna 152, N116SS, Durant, OK, April 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2003, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Durant, OK - Coordinates: 33.942222, -96.394447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9422&lon=-96.3944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Oklahoma City Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56786 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56786/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA127 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare resulting in a hard landing and his improper recovery procedures for a 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 - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The 17-hour student pilot, on his first solo flight, made one successful landing. On the second landing on runway 35, the aircraft bounced, and then bounced again to a height of approximately 20-30 feet. The aircraft nosed down and impacted the runway on its nose landing gear. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 350 degrees at 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2003, approximately 1520 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 single-engine airplane, N116SS, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Eaker Field Airport (DUA) near Durant, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Southeastern University of Durant. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local supervised solo flight originated at DUA approximately 1415, as a dual instructional flight. According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), after the student pilot demonstrated three normal takeoff and landings, a simulated engine failure, and go-around procedures, he released him for his first solo flight. Before exiting the airplane, he checked the wind. The wind was "350 degrees at 12 knots." The CFI then went to an area where he could observe the student's final approaches, landings, and takeoffs. The student taxied the airplane to runway 35 and after completing run-up checks, taxied the airplane onto runway 35 and took off. The ensuing approach and landing "appeared to be non-eventful and completed properly." The 17-hour student pilot exited the runway and taxied the airplane back to runway 35 for another takeoff and landing. During the second landing, the airplane bounced, and then bounced again to a height of 20-30 feet. The nose of the airplane dropped, and the airplane impacted the runway on its nose landing gear bending it aft. The airplane came to a stop upright on the runway. An examination of the airplane, by the operator and an FAA inspector, revealed that the propeller and left wing tip were damaged, and both the left and right side fuselage skin aft of the firewall was wrinkled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N116SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N116SS-2005-11-21), registration cancelled 2005-11-21, S/N 15282334, 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: 7582334 - Airframe hours: 8621.1 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southeastern University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 2003, 17.2 hours before - Departed: DUA, Durant, OK - Airport: DUA, Eaker Field Airport, runway 35, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17 total, 6 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20030407004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030407004519A), Apr 7, 2003: Cessna 152, Durant, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The aircraft bounced and then bounced again to a height of 20-30 feet. The nose of the… ## Other investigations on N116SS (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 FTW91LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA063), Apr 10, 1991: Cessna 152 (N116SS), Durant, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT DURING THE FLARE. 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.