# NTSB LAX85LA388: Cessna 152, N5477B, Modesto, CA, September 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1985, 08:41 local (15:41 UTC)
- Place: Modesto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.630119, -120.970321 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6301&lon=-120.9703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA388
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24832/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA388

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT REPTD THE FINAL APPROACH ANGLE WAS TOO SHALLOW. HE ADDED POWER AND AS THE ACFT ARRIVED OVER THE THRESHOLD HE REDUCED THE POWER. THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED. WHEN THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE THE PLT ADDED POWER TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. THE ACFT STALLED AND NOSED INTO THE RUNWAY. THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5477B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5477B-2014-10-27), registration cancelled 2014-10-27, S/N 15283879, built 1979 (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: 15283879
- Airframe hours: 1436
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Esco Aviation, doing business as Executive Air
- Registered owner: John J. Shaw
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Unknown, August 23, 1985, 30 hours before
- Departed: MOD
- Airport: MOD, 1modesto, runway 28L, 3,466 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 224 total, 224 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 224 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MOD

## 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 19850910044009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850910044009A), Sep 10, 1985: Cessna 152, Modesto, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft flared too high and student added power and pulled nose up. Nose gear collapsed during stall to runway.

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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