# NTSB IAD97LA087: Cessna 152, N4929B, Cambridge, MD, June 12, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 12, 1997, 13:52 local (17:52 UTC)
- Place: Cambridge, MD
- Coordinates: 38.559089, -76.069358 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5591&lon=-76.0694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28204/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA087

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to properly recover from a bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the approach the airspeed was stabilized at 60 knots, and she felt as if she was being pushed.  When she flared for landing, the airplane floated, so she increased the pitch to slow down.  She then stated that the airplanes main tires struck the runway and the airplane bounced back into the air.  She tried to control the airplane and landed on the runway again and felt the nose fall and the propeller strike the runway.  The airplane came to rest on the runway with the nose gear collapsed.

## Factual narrative

On June 12, 1997, at about 1352 eastern daylight time a Cessna 152, N4929B, operated by a solo student pilot, collided with the runway while attempting to land on runway 34, at Cambridge Dorchester Airport Cambridge, Maryland. The student pilot and sole occupant was not injured, however, the airplane sustained substantial damage.  Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for this cross-country flight.  The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated to the FAA that upon her arrival to the Cambridge Airport she entered the traffic pattern. On final approach to runway 34 the airspeed was stabilized at 60 knots, and the pilot felt as if she was being pushed.  When she flared for landing, the airplane floated, so she increased the pitch to slow down.  She then stated that the airplanes main tires struck the runway and the airplane bounced back into the air.  She tried to control the airplane and landed on the runway again and felt the nose fall and the propeller strike the runway.  The airplane came to rest still on the runway with the nose gear collapsed

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4929B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4929B-1998-10-22), registration cancelled 1998-10-22, S/N 15283711 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283711
- Airframe hours: 6978
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bettina A. Von Brontano
- Registered owner: Sloan Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: WRI, MCQUIRE AFB, NJ
- Destination: CBE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CGE, Cambridge Dorchester, runway 34, 4,004 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI, 5 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 19970612013859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970612013859A), Jun 12, 1997: Cessna 152, Cambridge, MD, Substantial damage. Floated landing increased pitch late. Impact on nose. Bounced. Landed. Nose fell. Had collapsed nose gear.

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.

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