# NTSB FTW98LA346: Cessna 152, N93116, Norman, OK, August 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1998, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Norman, OK - Coordinates: 35.25093, -97.460868 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2509&lon=-97.4609&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 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43667 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43667/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA346 ## Probable cause The student pilot's delayed 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) - 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 The solo student pilot lost control of the airplane following a hard landing after the airplane began to porpoise and the student pilot was unable to recover. The student pilot had been practicing touch and go landings. The flight instructor, who was supervising the solo flight from the ramp, observed the first touch and go to be 'ok.' During the second approach, the instructor noticed that the student flared 'improperly' and the student pilot recovered by executing a go around prior to touching down. On the third touch and go, he observed the student flare 'improperly' again. Upon touch down, the aircraft began to porpoise. During the porpoise, the propeller struck the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1998, at 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N93116, owned and operated by Airman Flight School of Norman, Oklahoma, was substantially damaged during landing at Westheimer Field, Norman, Oklahoma. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 supervised solo instructional flight. According to the flight instructor who was supervising the flight from the ramp, the student pilot was performing touch and go landings. He observed the first touch and go to be "ok." During the second approach, the instructor noticed that the student flared "improperly" and made a go around without touching down. On the third touch and go, he observed the student flare "improperly" again. Following a hard landing, the aircraft began to porpoise. While attempting to recover, the propeller struck the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed. Structural damage found by a FAA inspector was a buckled engine firewall, and wrinkled lower fuselage skin. ## 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: 7700 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 105 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airman Flight School, doing business as Airman Flight School - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1998, 40 hours before - Departed: OUN - Airport: OUN, Max Westheimer Field, runway 21, 4,800 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 69 total, 69 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F - Altimeter: 33.00 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 19980803040089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980803040089A), Aug 3, 1998: Cessna 152, Norman, OK, Substantial damage. (.4)On August 3, 1998, at 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N93116, owned and operated by airman flight school of Norman, Oklahoma, was… ## 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 FTW98LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA023), Oct 18, 1997: Cessna 152 (N93116), Norman, OK, substantial damage. 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. 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.