# NTSB GAA20CA086: Cessna 152, N4705Q, Sherman/Dennison, TX, November 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 16, 2019, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Sherman/Dennison, TX - Coordinates: 33.714168, -96.674446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7142&lon=-96.6744&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 May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100604 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100604/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100604 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA086 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. ## 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: 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) ## 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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during a time-building solo flight, he turned from the base to the final leg in the traffic pattern and determined that the airplane's altitude was too high. He pitched the nose down and reduced engine power. During the landing flare, the airplane remained in ground effect and ballooned. The pilot corrected by pushing forward on the yoke, and the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced multiple times, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to a stop on the runway and came to rest on the lower fuselage and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during a time-building solo flight, he turned from base to final in the traffic pattern and determined that the airplane's altitude was high. He pitched the nose down, and reduced engine power. During the landing flare, the airplane remained in ground effect and ballooned. The pilot corrected by pushing forward on the yoke, and the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced multiple times before the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to a stop on the runway and came to rest on the lower fuselage and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4705Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4705Q), registered now, S/N 152-85053, 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: 152-85053 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 19041.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: US Aviation Group Llc - Registered owner: US Aviation Group Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, September 6, 2019 - Departed: GYI, Sherman/Dennison, TX - Destination: JDD, Mineola, TX - Airport: GYI, North Texas Rgnl/Perrin Field, runway 17L, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 91 total, 84 in this make and model, 29 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KGLE, 26 nm away ## 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 20191116021269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191116021269A), Nov 16, 2019: Cessna 152, Denison, TX, Substantial damage. On 11/16/2019, ^jiahao chen^ was acting as pilot in command (PIC) of N4705Q, a Cessna 152 belonging to us aviation academy pilot school. ^Mr. Chen^ was… ## Other investigations on N4705Q (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 BFO93LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA041), Mar 3, 1993: Cessna 152 (N4705Q), New Cumberland, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TAILWIND AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100604. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.