# NTSB FTW98LA023: Cessna 152, N93116, Norman, OK, October 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 1997, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Norman, OK - Coordinates: 35.249191, -97.460647 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2492&lon=-97.4606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20463/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA023 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a porpoise and subsequent collapse of the nose gear. ## 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) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis During his first solo landing, the student pilot flared the airplane too high. Subsequently, a high sink rate developed and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The student pilot added power in an attempt to execute a go-around; however, the airplane touched down again, bounced, and then touched down nose wheel first collapsing the nose landing gear. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 1997, at 0940 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N93116, was substantially damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed following a hard landing at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport in Norman, Oklahoma. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to Christiansen Aviation, Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and operated by Airman Flight School, Inc., of Norman. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight which originated at 0930. In a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the student pilot reported that he was making his first solo landing, flared the airplane "too high," and "bounced" the landing. He added power in an attempt to execute a go-around; however, the airplane touched down again, bounced, and then touched down nose wheel first collapsing the nose landing gear. The student's flight instructor witnessed the accident and provided a written statement to the NTSB IIC stating that the student "flared too soon allowing the aircraft to float." He further stated that the "aircraft's airspeed bleed off, [resulting in it] sinking rapidly toward the runway." Another witness reported that the "pilot pitched up too high and landed with a hard bounce on the main gear." The airplane then "bounced a second time, with all three wheels," became "airborne again and came down nose first." The nose landing gear "buckled," and the airplane "slid to a stop on its propeller." According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the nose landing gear was bent back under the fuselage, and the propeller, engine mount, and firewall were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93116](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93116), registered now, S/N 15285405, built 1981 (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: 15285405 - Airframe hours: 7924 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-H2AD 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airman Flight School, Inc. - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 1997, 93 hours before - Departed: OUN - Airport: OUN, Univ. Of Okla. Westheimer, runway 21, 4,750 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OUN ## 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 19971018039629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971018039629A), Oct 18, 1997: Cessna 152, Norman, OK, Substantial damage. First solo. Flared high. Stalled bounced. Added power and porpoised. Nose gear folded. Damaged gear prop firewall. (-23) student pilot soloing, doing touch and… ## Other investigations on N93116 (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 FTW98LA346](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA346), Aug 3, 1998: Cessna 152 (N93116), Norman, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's delayed landing flare resulting in a hard landing and his improper recovery procedures for a bounced 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. --- 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.