# NTSB FTW96LA097: Cessna 152, N111UF, Spring, TX, January 13, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 13, 1996, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Spring, TX
- Coordinates: 30.04054, -95.529014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0405&lon=-95.5290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19744/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA097

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, improper recovery from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain directional control during the landing.  The soft terrain was a related factor.

## 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)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The 65-hour student pilot had been cleared for a solo flight to practice touch and go landings. While landing on runway 17L, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and porpoised a couple of times. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway. When the airplane departed the runway, the nose wheel sank in the soft ground and the airplane nosed over to the inverted position.

## Factual narrative

On January 13, 1996, at 1045 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N111UF, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing near Spring, Texas.  The student pilot was not injured.  The airplane was operated by United Flight Services of Spring, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo local instructional flight.

According to the operator, the pilot had been cleared for a solo flight to practice landings at the David Wayne Hooks Airport.  During an intended touch and go landing on Runway 17L, the airplane landed hard, porpoise a couple of times, followed by a  loss of directional control.

The airplane departed to the left of the runway, the nose wheel sank into the soft ground, nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N111UF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111UF-1996-08-23), registration cancelled 1996-08-23, S/N 15283283 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283283
- Airframe hours: 4496
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 106 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: United Flight Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 1996, 1 hours before
- Departed: DWH
- Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 17L, 4,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 60 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DWH, 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 19960113046589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960113046589A), Jan 13, 1996: Cessna 152, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. (4) Student pilot lost control on 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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