# NTSB LAX91LA131: Cessna 152, N5496B, Eloy, AZ, March 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1991, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Eloy, AZ
- Location: 32.8067° N, 111.5866° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ELOY MUNI (E60), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8067&lon=-111.5866&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27139
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27139/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA131

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND THE INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A PORPOISE CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT'S STATEMENT, SHE LANDED NORMALLY ON THE MAIN GEAR AND LOWERED THE NOSE WHEEL TO THE PAVEMENT. THE PILOT SAID SHE THEN PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL YOKE AND THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED BACK INTO THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE AND EVENTUALLY COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5496B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283886
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Double Eagle Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TUC, TUCSON, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: E60, Eloy, runway 2, 3,900 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 56 total, 27 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 11 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 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910315017909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910315017909A), Mar 15, 1991: Cessna 152, Eloy, AZ, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on landing collapsing the 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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