# NTSB GAA19CA566: Cessna 152, N93069, Denton, TX, September 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 18, 2019, 11:18 local (16:18 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.2075, -97.197776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2075&lon=-97.1978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA566 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100328/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100328 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA566 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a nose landing gear collapse. ## 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during landing, he flared the airplane too high. The airplane then sank, landed hard, and bounced multiple times, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The safety manager for the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, during landing, he flared too high. He added that the airplane sank and landed hard. The airplane bounced multiple times and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The safety manager for the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 100° at 8 knots. The student pilot landed the airplane on runway 18. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93069](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93069-2021-12-20), registration cancelled 2021-12-20, S/N 15285389, 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: 15285389 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 14378 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Us Aviation Group Llc - Registered owner: Us Aviation Group Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 5, 2019 - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Destination: DTO, Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise, runway 18, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 65.6 total, 65.6 in this make and model, 2.7 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KDTO ## 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 20190918013319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190918013319A), Sep 18, 2019: Cessna 152, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot on solo flight landing at dto. Student had a hard landing which collapsed the nose landing gear and damaged the right wing. ## Other investigations on N93069 (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 LAX94LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA224), May 25, 1994: Cessna 152 (N93069), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind conditions and his resultant loss of directional control. A factor in the accident was the student's lack of total flight… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100328. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.