# NTSB LAX93LA304: Cessna 152, N69208, San Carlos, CA, July 28, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1993, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: San Carlos, CA
- Coordinates: 37.490982, -122.260063 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4910&lon=-122.2601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA304
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27987/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA304

## Probable cause

THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT, THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING BY THE CREW, AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN GIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION BY THE CFI.  FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, THE CFI'S FAILURE TO ISSUE PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES TO THE STUDENT, AND THE CFI'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, dual student
  - flight controls - improper use of, dual student (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, dual student (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not issued, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - raising of flaps - delayed, pilot in command(cfi)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING PHASE OF A TRAINING FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK RAPIDLY.  THE STUDENT PILOT PUSHED FORWARD ON THE ELEVATOR WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. DURING THE RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING THE CFI TOOK THE CONTROLS TO CUSHION THE NEXT LANDING.  THE CFI SAID SHE DID NOT TELL THE STUDENT SHE HAD THE CONTROLS, THUS IN THE CONFUSION, THE STUDENT PILOT ADDED POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND.  THE CFI CONCURRED BUT THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL BOUNCING, AND THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL WAS OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO BECOME AIRBORNE DUE TO THE FLAPS STILL BEING SET AT 30 DEGREES. THE CFI THEN DECIDED TO ABORT THE GO-AROUND.  THE CFI SAID SHE NOTICED THE FLAP SETTING ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY.  THE CFI ADDED FULL BRAKES AND THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN A DITCH. THE CFI HAD 65 TOTAL HOURS OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69208](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69208-1995-02-23), registration cancelled 1995-02-23, S/N 15282556 (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: 82556
- Airframe hours: 7773
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Palo Alto Flying Club
- Registered owner: Allen Oake
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 6, 1993, 50 hours before
- Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Destination: SQL
- Airport: SQL, San Carlos, runway 12, 2,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 450 total, 300 in this make and model, 386 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SQL, 1 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 19930728026009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930728026009A), Jul 28, 1993: Cessna 152, San Carlos, CA, Substantial damage. Student bounced and porpoised began go around still bouncing. CFI took over. Ran off side runway into a ditch.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.