# NTSB FTW95LA196: Cessna 152, N67492, Durango, CO, May 14, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 1995, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Durango, CO
- Coordinates: 37.269039, -107.880493 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2690&lon=-107.8805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19414
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19414/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA196

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE AND IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.

## 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)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND BOUNCED. THE SECOND TOUCH DOWN WAS HARD, AGAIN LANDING NOSE GEAR FIRST.  THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY AT FULL POWER, DAMAGING THE FIREWALL.

## Factual narrative

On May 14, 1995, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N67492, sustained substantial damage during landing at La Plata County Airport, Durango, Colorado. The student pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed on this local area student solo training flight and no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, she was doing a touch-and-go landing and the aircraft attitude at touchdown was nose low.  First contact was on the nose landing gear, followed by a bounce and a hard landing on the nose.  The nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the runway with the engine at full power, damaging the firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67492](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67492-2008-04-21), registration cancelled 2008-04-21, S/N 15281864, 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: 15281864
- Airframe hours: 7538
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C(M) 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Durango Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 3, 1995, 16 hours before
- Departed: DRO
- Airport: DRO, Durango, La Plata County, runway 20, 9,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 1 nm away

## 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 19950514011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950514011659A), May 14, 1995: Cessna 152, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. Landed nose wheel first. Bounced and hit nose first again. Folded nose gear. Damaged prop and firewall.

## Other investigations on N67492 (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 DEN93LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA024), Jan 28, 1993: Cessna 152 (N67492), Durango, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: POWER LOSS DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL. A FACTOR WAS: UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

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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