# NTSB LAX91LA379: Cessna C-152, N89022, Palo Alto, CA, September 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 1, 1991, 08:38 local (15:38 UTC)
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.449291, -122.099014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4493&lon=-122.0990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA379
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27346/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA379

## Probable cause

IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING BY THE STUDENT PILOT AND THE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE WHICH RESULTED IN A BOUNCED LANDING AND THE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION DURING THE LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED THE AIRPLANE BACK INTO THE AIR ABOUT 20 FEET.  THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS BUT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT STALLED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY WITH THE LEFT WING AND TAIL.  THE AIRPLANE THEN DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKING A RUNWAY LIGHT.  THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89022](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89022-2018-01-17), registration cancelled 2018-01-17, S/N 15282599, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-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: 82599
- Airframe hours: 4163
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Main, Stanley G.
- Registered owner: Main, Stanley G.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 27, 1991, 2 hours before
- Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Airport: PAO, Palo Alto, runway 3, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,062 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 1,923 as pilot in command, 179 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## Other investigations on N89022 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX93LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA168), Apr 8, 1993: Cessna 152 (N89022), San Carlos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT AND DELAYING THE REMEDIAL ACTION. THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.

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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