# NTSB LAX93LA332: Cessna 152, N6596P, Glendale, AZ, August 21, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1993, 07:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Glendale, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.529701, -112.179786 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5297&lon=-112.1798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28457
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA332
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28457/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA332

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM THE ENSUING 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)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear strut - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO.  ON THE SECOND LANDING THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPERLY FLARED THE AIRPLANE AND SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING.  THE STUDENT PILOT OVERCORRECTED FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING AND THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED THREE TIMES SUBSEQUENTLY COLLAPSING THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.

## Factual narrative

On Saturday, August 21, 1993, at 0720 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N6596P, porpoised on landing and collapsed the nose gear on runway 19 at Glendale Municipal Airport, Glendale, Arizona.  The noncertificated student pilot was conducting his first local visual flight rules solo instructional flight.  The airplane, registered to and operated by Sawyer Aviation, Phoenix, Arizona, sustained substantial damage.  The noncertificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the reported surface winds were calm.  The flight originated at Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, at about 0705 hours.

The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he was completing his second of three planned supervised solo touch and go takeoffs and landings.  The approach was normal, but the airplane ballooned during the flare.  The student pilot said that he "over-corrected" for the ballooning and the airplane porpoised three times when the nose gear collapsed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6596P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6596P), registered now, S/N 15285036, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 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: 15285036
- Airframe hours: 6031
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Sawyer Aviation
- Registered owner: Sawyer Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 5, 1993, 15 hours before
- Airport: GEU, Glendale Municipal, runway 19, 5,350 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GEU

## 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 19930821052109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930821052109A), Aug 21, 1993: Cessna 152, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. On first solo flight ballooned and porpoised on landing. Over corrected. Impact on runway collapsed nose gear.

## Other investigations on N6596P (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 LAX96LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA179), Apr 29, 1996: Cessna 152 (N6596P), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudged flare, improper bounced landing recovery, and failure to maintain directional control.

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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