LAX94LA052

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Compton, CA · November 19, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 19, 1993, 11:23 local (19:23 UTC)
Place
Compton, CA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N5312LCessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19931119043999A
Case key
28605

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

were the noncertificated student pilot's misjudged flare altitude, improper recovery from a bounced landing, and improper use of the left brake. The student pilot's lack of total experience and panic were factors in this accident.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Flare - misjudgedPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Recovery from bounced landing - improperPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
PanicPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The noncertificated student pilot was completing his first supervised solo landing. On touch down, the airplane bounced. The student pilot panicked and, inadvertently, depressed the left brake. The airplane exited the runway and collided with a hangar and motor home.

Factual narrative

On November 19, 1993, at 1123 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N5312L, lost control, exited runway 25L, and collided with a ground vehicle and hangar at Compton Airport, Compton, California. The noncertificated student pilot was completing the first landing of his first supervised solo flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Consolidated Aviation, dba Compton Aviation, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated as a dual instructional flight at 1045 hours.

The student pilot's flight instructor (CFI) told National Transportation Safety Board investigators that he was standing in front of Compton Aviation's office facilities observing the student's takeoff and landing. The flight instructor had flown with the student about a half hour before allowing the student to solo. The instruction preceding the accident consisted of seven (7) full-stop takeoffs and landings. During this time, the CFI reported that the student's takeoffs and landings were better than average.

The CFI said that the student's takeoff and traffic pattern was normal. While on final approach, the airplane's airspeed, however, was "...slightly fast...." The student flared the airplane at its normal flare altitude and the airplane landed on its main wheels first, followed by the nose wheel. The airplane touched down about 300 feet beyond the runway threshold (about 1,300 feet beyond the approach end of the runway), and bounced no more than one foot. Other taxiing airplanes blocked his view so he did not see the landing roll-out. Moments later, he observed several people running toward the hangars south of the runway.

The student pilot told Safety Board investigators, with the assistance of an interpreter, that his final approach speed was above 60 knots. The airplane bounced on touch down and he panicked and, inadvertently, depressed the left brake. The airplane exited the runway to the left, crossed the dirt area, and entered the taxiway and parking apron. The airplane's left wing struck a parked motorhome, turned left 180 degrees, and the right wing simultaneously struck a hangar and nosed into the ground.

The student pilot also said that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures.

Safety Board investigators examined the student pilot's flight hours logbook. The logbook showed that as of the accident flight the student had accrued 17.9 hours of dual instruction. All of the flights were flown in the accident airplane make and model. The CFI had endorsed the student pilot's certificate and flight logbook according to current applicable federal air regulations.

Safety Board investigators examined the wreckage on November 19, 1993. The wreckage examination revealed that both wings outer panels sustained extensive rearward crushing. The rear spar, at its wing-to-fuselage attach fittings, was also damaged. Both wing flaps were found fully extended.

The cockpit wing flap control lever was found in the 30-degrees (full down) position. The carburetor heat control was selected to on position.

Safety Board investigators conducted a visual examination and an operational check of the brake system. Both brakes operated normally and their respective brake pads/rotor disks exhibited normal wear patterns.

Aircraft

Registration
N5312L
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15284294
Airframe hours
17,221
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Consolidated Aviation, doing business as Compton Aviation
Registered owner
Consolidated Aviation Corp.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · October 12, 1993 · 30 hours before
Departed
CPM
Airport
CPM · Compton Airport, runway 25L, 3,670 × 60 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
20
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no 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 · 8 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.