# NTSB GAA19CA571: Cessna 152, N6450B, Lafayette, IN, September 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 25, 2019, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, IN - Coordinates: 40.412223, -86.936943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4122&lon=-86.9369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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): 100335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA571 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100335/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100335 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA571 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); 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: 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, shortly after the airplane landed, it ballooned and then bounced twice. Subsequently, the airplane pitched down, and the nose landing gear struck the runway and then collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine frame. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student solo pilot reported that, shortly after touchdown, the airplane landed ballooned and bounced twice. Subsequently, the airplane pitched down, the nose landing gear struck the runway and collapsed on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine frame. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 20 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 230° at 8 knots and about 40 minutes after the accident the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. The pilot reported that during landing, the winds were 230° at 9 knots, gusting 16 knots. The student pilot was landing the airplane on runway 23. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6450B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6450B-2022-10-18), registration cancelled 2022-10-18, S/N 15283935 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283935 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Purdue Aviation Llc - Registered owner: Purdue Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LAF, Lafayette, IN - Destination: LAF, Lafayette, IN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LAF, Purdue University, runway 28, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KLAF ## 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 20190925018599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190925018599A), Sep 25, 2019: Cessna 152, Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Description On September 25, 2019, at 17:10 local time, aircraft N6450B, a Cessna 152, was substantially damaged after a hard landing at the Lafayette Indiana… ## Other investigations on N6450B (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 FTW83LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA272), Jun 12, 1983: Cessna 152 (N6450B), League City, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100335. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480155&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.