- Date
- October 26, 1997, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Lincoln Park, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4950ACessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971026030979A
- Case key
- 28263
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
the pilot's improper flare during touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent encounter with terrain.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 01, the airplane bounced three times. She said after the third bounce, the front wheel was uncontrollable, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck the ground, and nosed over. According to an FAA Inspector, this was the pilot's fourth solo flight. The pilot reported over 64 hours of total flight time, including 25 hours in make and model. She also reported that the winds were calm, and there was no mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On October 26, 1997, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N4950A, was substantially damaged when it touched down hard and nosed over at Lincoln Park Airport, Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The instructional flight originated at Lincoln Park, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 01, the airplane bounced three times. She said the third time was the hardest, and the nosewheel was uncontrollable. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck the ground, and nosed over.
An FAA Inspector reported that this was the pilot's fourth solo flight. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident, and she had over 63 hours of total flight time in make and model. She also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4950A
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- A1520910
- Airframe hours
- 1,850
- Engine
- Lycoming, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jean Aire Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 4, 1997 · 63 hours before
- Departed
- N07
- Airport
- N07 · Lincoln Park, runway 1, 2,942 × 40 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 64 total · 25 in this make and model · 37 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CDW, 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.