# NTSB LAX91LA373: Cessna 152, N757ZJ, Montague, CA, August 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1991, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Montague, CA
- Coordinates: 41.759456, -122.389167 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7595&lon=-122.3892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27341
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA373
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27341/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA373

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER GO-AROUND PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT AFTER BEING ENDORSED FOR SOLO OPERATIONS. THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRPLANE TOO HIGH OVER THE RUNWAY AND ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER AND RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE TOWARDS THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT THEN SELECTED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND REDUCED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND, LOWERING THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE TO GAIN AIRSPEED. THE NOSE AND PROPELLER THEN CONTACTED THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N757ZJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757ZJ-1994-05-27), registration cancelled 1994-05-27, S/N 15280131 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15280131
- Airframe hours: 2529
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Montague Aviation
- Registered owner: Cortwright & Seibold
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 1991, 15 hours before
- Airport: SIY, Siskiyou Co., runway 35, 7,484 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19910824036639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910824036639A), Aug 24, 1991: Cessna 152, Montague, CA, Substantial damage. Leveled off too high. Began go around and retracted flaps. Put nose down to gain speed. Nose gear and prop damaged.

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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