# NTSB LAX96LA127: Cessna 152, N5531M, Las Vegas, NV, March 7, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1996, 13:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.23912, -115.229164 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2391&lon=-115.2292&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 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29384
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29384/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA127

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper flare and improper recover from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose gear.  A factor relating to the accident was: the flight instructor's inadequate instruction concerning recovery from bounced landings.

## 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)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - instructions,written/verbal - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

After flying in the practice area, the student pilot returned to the traffic pattern to perform touch-and-go landings in a calm wind condition. The student stated that as she flared to land, the airplane bounced. After several bounces, the nose landing gear collapsed. According to the operator, the student's instructor had not followed the school training cirriculum and had provided inadequate instruction regarding recovery from difficulties in the landing phase of flight.

## Factual narrative

On March 7, 1996, about 1355 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N5531M, was substantially damaged after the nose landing gear collapsed during a landing at North Las Vegas, Nevada.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight and no flight plan was filed.  The pilot was to perform a series of touch-and-go landings on runway 07.

The student pilot stated that she was coming in from the practice area for the first touch-and-go landing.  She stated that the winds were calm and during the flare the airplane bounced.  After several bounces the nose gear collapsed.

According to the operator, the flight instructor did not follow the training curriculum with the student.  The student had not been given instruction regarding recovery from difficulties in the landing phase of flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5531M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5531M), registered now, S/N 15284606, built 1980 (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: 15284606
- Engines: Continental O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aerleon Flight School
- Registered owner: Wgl Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 1996
- Departed: VGT, NV
- Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas, runway 7, 5,000 × 90 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19960307003779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960307003779A), Mar 7, 1996: Cessna 152, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing. Impacts collapsed the nose gear. CFI negligent. Not given recovery procedures.

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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