# NTSB IAD98LA111: Cessna 152, N94784, Danbury, CT, September 25, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1998, 10:51 local (14:51 UTC)
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Location: 41.3715° N, 73.4822° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DANBURY MUNI (DXR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3715&lon=-73.4822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 44035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44035/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA111

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

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

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

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 17, he did not flare soon enough, and the airplane hit hard on all three wheels causing a bounce.  He said he tried to recover from the bounce, but the airplane hit the ground again, and then the nose contacted the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine. The reported winds at the time of the accident was variable at 6 knots.

## Factual narrative

On September 25, 1998, at 1051 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94784, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, Connecticut.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The local, solo, instructional flight originated at Danbury, Connecticut, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 17, he did not flare soon enough, and the airplane hit hard on all three wheels causing a bounce.  He said he tried to recover from the bounce, but the airplane hit the ground again, and then the nose contacted the runway.

The pilot reported over 33 hours of total flight time, all in make and model.  He also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or engine.  The reported winds at the time of the accident were variable at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94784](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94784-2007-01-23), registration cancelled 2007-01-23, S/N 15285786, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- 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: 15285786
- Airframe hours: 6525
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: North American Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Starship Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 1998, 80 hours before
- Departed: DXR
- Airport: DXR, Danbury Muni, runway 17, 3,135 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DXR

## 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 19980925033239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980925033239A), Sep 25, 1998: Cessna 152, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. On September 25, 1998, at 1051 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N94784, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Danbury Municipal Airport,…

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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