# NTSB GAA17CA173: Cessna 152, N6138Q, Tulsa, OK, March 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2017, 08:27 local (14:27 UTC) - Place: Tulsa, OK - Coordinates: 36.040554, -95.985557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0406&lon=-95.9856&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 July 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94820/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94820 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA173 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during his first solo flight, on the second landing of three, the airplane porpoised. His flight instructor was observing the airplane and reported that the nosewheel impacted the ground first. Subsequently, the student pilot added power and performed a go-around. The flight instructor added that, on the third landing, the touchdown was soft and on the main landing gear. Once the nosewheel touched down, the airplane veered off the runway to the right into grass and then nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during his first solo flight, on the second landing of three, the airplane porpoised. His flight instructor was observing the airplane and reported that the nose wheel impacted the ground first. Subsequently, the student pilot added power and performed a go-around. On the third landing the flight instructor added that the touchdown was soft and on the main landing gear. Once the nose wheel touched down, the airplane veered off the runway to the right, into grass, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6138Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6138Q-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 15285162, 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: 15285162 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 16555.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Spartan Education LLC. - Registered owner: Spartan Education LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2017 - Departed: RVS, Tulsa, OK - Destination: RVS, Tulsa, OK - Airport: RVS, Richard Lloyd Jones Jr, runway 1R, 4,208 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: KRVS ## 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 20170302001169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170302001169A), Mar 2, 2017: Cessna 152, Tulsa, OK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that on his first landing attempt for runway 1R, he bounced the aircraft 2 times and then aborted the landing and flew around the pattern again.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94820. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot and Instructor Statements (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20and%20Instructor%20Statements-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 557 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453995&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.