# NTSB LAX01LA151: Cessna 152, N5377M, Chandler, AZ, April 18, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 2001, 13:24 local (20:24 UTC)
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.239414, -111.779716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2394&lon=-111.7797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Sunbird Flight Services, Inc., Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52108/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA151

## Probable cause

The pilot's premature flare, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and a bounced landing.  A factor was the 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 - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The pilot flared prematurely, resulting in an inadvertent stall and a bounced landing.  The airplane bounced several times, and on the final bounce the nose gear collapsed.

## Factual narrative

On April 18, 2001, at 1324 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N5377M, made a hard landing at the Chandler, Arizona, airport.  The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Sunbird Flight Services, Inc., was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91, and it was rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight.  The flight originated from the Chandler Municipal Airport about 1230.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that as he completed his approach to runway 22L, he misjudged his height above the runway and flared too high.  The airplane stalled and bounced several times.  On the final bounce the nose gear collapsed.

A postaccident inspection revealed that the firewall had been damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5377M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5377M-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 15284570, built 1980 (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: 15284570
- Airframe hours: 8723
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C(M) 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sunbird Flight Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 2001, 24 hours before
- Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ
- Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal, runway 22L, 4,850 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 25, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 220 total, 220 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: CHD

## 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 20010418007919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010418007919A), Apr 18, 2001: Cessna 152, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19)On April 18, 2001, at 1324 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N5377M, made a hard landing at the Chandler, Arizona, airport. The airplane…

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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