# NTSB LAX86LA133: Cessna 152, N49429, San Luis Obispo, CA, March 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1986, 15:03 local (23:03 UTC)
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Location: 35.2373° N, 120.6426° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY RGNL (SBP), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2373&lon=-120.6426&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): 25085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25085/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA133

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
  - lack of total experience, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - flare - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

ON MARCH 4, 1986 A CESSNA 152 COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY SURFACE AFTER THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE SOLO FLIGHT SINCE HIS SOLO ENDORSEMENT. ON HIS THIRD APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON LANDING AND BECAME AIRBORNE WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. HE APPLIED FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE YOKE TO LEVEL THE NOSE AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE NOSE WHEEL AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. ON THE THIRD OSCILLATION THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS A NEW CFII WITH LESS THAN 1000 HOURS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WHO HAD JUST RECEIVED HIS RATING THREE MONTHS AGO. HE HAD CHECKED THE WEATHER AND BRIEFED THE STUDENT PILOT PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N49429 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15281259
- Airframe hours: 3381
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Coastal Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1985, 3 hours before
- Departed: SBP, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
- Airport: SBP, San Luis Obispo, runway 29, 4,799 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRB, 26 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860304005289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860304005289A), Mar 4, 1986: Cessna 152, San Luis Obispo, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced, porpoised on landing. Nose gear collapsed. Ten days between first and second solo with no dual flight.

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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