# NTSB LAX89LA266: Cessna 152, N95693, Santa Monica, CA, August 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1989, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Coordinates: 34.00967, -118.459274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0097&lon=-118.4593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA266
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26470/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA266

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND 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 - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), THE LESSON BEGAN AS A DUAL SESSION, THEN THE STUDENT TOOK OFF ON A SOLO FLIGHT TO MAKE THREE SUPERVISED SOLO LANDINGS.  THE STUDENT'S SOLO TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS NORMAL THROUGH A SHORT FINAL APPROACH.  THE CFI NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A 'FLAT ATTITUDE' AND WAS 'MAYBE SLIGHTLY SLOW' AS IT CROSSED OVER THE THRESHOLD.  SUBSEQUENTLY, IT LANDED HARD ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH EACH OSCILLATION GROWNING LARGER. ON THE FINAL OSCILLATION, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N95693 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285959
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Gunnell Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SMO
- Destination: SMO
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMO

## 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 19890806037989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890806037989A), Aug 6, 1989: Cessna 152, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. Student on third solo flight bounced and propoised on landing, each bounce bigger until impact sheared nose gear.

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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