# NTSB FTW97LA271: Cessna 152, N4870B, Sherman, TX, July 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1997, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Sherman, TX - Coordinates: 33.660301, -96.70066 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6603&lon=-96.7007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20283/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA271 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed landing flare and his improper bounced landing recovery technique. ## 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) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis A witness at the airport reported that the airplane landed hard on runway 16 and the pilot lost control after the airplane porpoised three times, collapsing the nose landing gear on the second bounce. The witness added that after the propeller impacted the runway, the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the airplane at the accident site by the FAA inspector confirmed the evidence of propeller slashes on the pavement. The operator stated that the student pilot was in the United States on a student visa to learn to fly, and he had accumulated a total of 18 hours of flight at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1997, at 1745 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N4870B, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing at the Sherman Municipal Airport, near Sherman, Texas. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned by Whitmire Enterprises Inc., and operated by the South Central Flying Service, both of Sherman, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed from the Sherman Municipal Airport at approximately 1630. A witness at the airport reported that the airplane landed hard on runway 16 and the pilot lost control after the airplane porpoised three times, collapsing the nose landing gear on the second bounce. The witness added that after the propeller impacted the runway, the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the 1979 model airplane at the accident site by the FAA inspector confirmed the evidence of propeller slashes on the pavement. The inspector added that the engine firewall was buckled, both wings sustained structural damage and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The inspector further stated that the student pilot was in the United States from Poland on a student visa to learn to fly, and he had accumulated a total of 18 hours of flight at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4870B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4870B-2000-01-18), registration cancelled 2000-01-18, S/N 15283685 (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: 15283685 - Airframe hours: 6240 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Randy Livingston, doing business as South Central Flying Service - Registered owner: Whitmire Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1996, 99 hours before - Departed: SWI - Airport: SWI, Sherman Municipal Airport, runway 16, 4,005 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °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 19970716019009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970716019009A), Jul 16, 1997: Cessna 152, Sherman, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control of aircraft on landing, nose gear collapsed, flipped over and came to rest on runway. (-23) on July 16, 1997, at 1745 central… ## Other investigations on N4870B (2) 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 FTW93LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA062), Jan 5, 1993: Cessna 152 (N4870B), Wichita Falls, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. - [NTSB FTW89LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA082), Apr 15, 1989: Cessna 152 (N4870B), Addison, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT HANDLING BY THE STUDENT PILOT, WHERE SHE ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO START TO PORPOISE, AND THEN DID NOT CORRECT IT. 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.