# NTSB GAA16CA116: Cessna 152, N5101P, Durant, OK, January 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2016, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Durant, OK - Coordinates: 33.942222, -96.394996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9422&lon=-96.3950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Oklahoma City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92674/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92674 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, resulting in a porpoise. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: confidence/reliance on equip](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021015/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing, she reduced the power and after rounding out the airplane "ballooned high." She reported that she relaxed the elevator pressure slightly to hold the airplane in a level attitude, and that the airplane "sank fast and bounced back high several times." The propeller struck the runway, the airplane had a total loss of power, and the nose wheel tire flattened. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that the automated weather observing system was reporting wind conditions as 19 knots, gusting to 24 knots from 210 degrees before she entered the airport's airspace. She additionally stated that the crosswind component was more than 11 knots. Approximately five minutes prior to the accident time, the meteorological terminal aviation routine weather report stated wind conditions as 16 knots, gusting to 26 knots from 220 degrees. As a safety recommendation, the pilot stated that she "should have prepared to go around anytime the approach was not as stabilized or try to land with a higher indicated airspeed or only two notches of flaps instead." She additionally discussed a "hazardous attitude" regarding the landing, with "macho – I thought I had landed successfully in gusty winds as strong as this before" and with "impulsivity – I really wanted to land as soon as possible." ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing, she reduced the power and after rounding out the airplane "ballooned high." She reported that she relaxed the elevator pressure slightly to hold the airplane in a level attitude, and that the airplane "sank fast and bounced back high several times." The propeller struck the runway, the airplane had a total loss of power, and the nose wheel tire flattened. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that the automated weather observing system was reporting wind conditions as 19 knots, gusting to 24 knots from 210 degrees before she entered the airport's airspace. She additionally stated that the crosswind component was more than 11 knots. Approximately five minutes prior to the accident time, the meteorological terminal aviation routine weather report stated wind conditions as 16 knots, gusting to 26 knots from 220 degrees. As a safety recommendation, the pilot stated that she "should have prepared to go around anytime the approach was not as stabilized or try to land with a higher indicated airspeed or only two notches of flaps instead." She additionally discussed a "hazardous attitude" regarding the landing, with "macho – I thought I had landed successfully in gusty winds as strong as this before" and with "impulsivity – I really wanted to land as soon as possible." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5101P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5101P-2021-05-12), registration cancelled 2021-05-12, S/N 15284876, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 (NO SERIES) - 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: 15284876 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 19001.2 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Riverside Flight Center - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 10, 2015 - Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK - Destination: DUA, Durant, OK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DUA, Durant Rgnl - Eaker Field, runway 17, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 177.6 total, 143.5 in this make and model, 57.2 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 26.6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 16 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KDUA ## 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 20160129001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160129001269A), Jan 29, 2016: Cessna 152, Durant, OK, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land the aircraft on runway 17 in Durant ok. At 65 knots, flaps down, power to idle, the aircraft balooned high. The aircraft sank fast… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92674. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 717 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photograph (item 2, .PDF, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photograph%20-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.