# NTSB IAD98LA112: Cessna 152, N89644, Oxford, CT, September 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1998, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Oxford, CT - Location: 41.4340° N, 73.1168° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oxford, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4340&lon=-73.1168&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44054/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed ## Analysis The pilot completed three takeoffs and landings. The pilot said that during the fourth landing attempt he encountered a gust of wind. The pilot stated he overcorrected during his attempt to complete the landing. The airplane bounced three times and landed hard on the nose gear. The pilot said, 'This was my fault. Instead of correcting, I tried to put the airplane down as quickly as possible.' The pilot reported 85 hours of total flight experience, 20 hours of which were in make and model. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1998, at 1300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89644, was substantially damaged after a loss of control during landing at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC), Oxford, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that originated at OXC, at 1215. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement provided to the Connecticut State Police, the passenger stated: "We taxied off [to] Runway 36 for a day of practice flights...the pre-flight was fine and the weather was good. We then flew the pattern and did 3 landings. On the fourth landing a gust of wind came in and blew us off the runway. The plane bounced three times and we were blown into the grass. The nose wheel was low, which caused it to break, and make us go into the grass." In a written statement provided to the Connecticut State Police, the pilot stated: "At approximately 1215, I taxied out to Runway 36 and took off without any problems. We then flew the pattern and did 3 landings. On the 4th landing, a gust of wind came in and blew us off the runway. This was my fault. Instead of correcting, I tried to put the plane down as quickly as possible. The plane bounced three times and we were blown into the grass. The nose wheel was low and that broke. The nose wheel caused us to go into the grass." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector revealed wing and fuselage damage. Further examination revealed firewall and landing gear damage that included a broken nose gear strut. The Inspector stated the nose gear was 'low' during the landing roll because the strut was broken during the landing. According to the Inspector, the pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The pilot reported 85 hours of total flight experience, 20 of which were in the Cessna 152. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89644](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89644-2008-11-07), registration cancelled 2008-11-07, S/N 15282812, built 1978 (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: 15282812 - Airframe hours: 5634 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hicks Enterprises - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1998, 73 hours before - Departed: OXC - Airport: OXB, Waterbury-Oxford, runway 36, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OXC ## 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 19980926045649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980926045649A), Sep 26, 1998: Cessna 152, Oxford, CT, Substantial damage. The pilot completed three takeoffs and landings. The pilot said that during the fourth landing attempt he encountered a gust of wind. The pilot stated he… 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.