# NTSB LAX97LA309: Cessna 152, N65273, Imperial, CA, August 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1997, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Imperial, CA - Coordinates: 32.859588, -115.650161 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8596&lon=-115.6502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA309 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing and to arrest porpoising after an improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors in the accident were the misjudging of distance and speed during a downwind landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - weather condition - tailwind - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear strut - overload - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis While on a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot made a steep approach to his destination runway. The runway chosen by the pilot had a 10-knot tailwind for the landing and he had extended the aircraft's flaps 10 degrees. The aircraft touched down about 1,200 feet from the end of the 5,304-foot-long runway and bounced twice before veering off the runway. Marks in the dirt indicated that the aircraft then porpoised three more times before the nose wheel collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1997, at 0950 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N65273, veered off runway 32, struck a distance remaining marker, and came to rest inverted at the Imperial County Airport, Imperial, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo (instructional) cross-country flight. Witnesses reported to an inspector from the San Diego Flight Standards District Office that the aircraft landed downwind on runway 32 with 10 degrees of flaps extended. The reported surface winds were from 140 degrees at 10 knots. Runway 32 is 5,304 feet long and 100 feet wide. The aircraft came to rest approximately 20 feet left of the runway shoulder and 1,000 feet from the departure end. The same inspector stated that ground scars indicated that the aircraft porpoised at least three times after veering off the runway. The first mark, about 20 feet long, showed the right main and nose landing gear wheels in the dirt. The second mark, about 40 feet long, showed all three landing gear and ended where the nose wheel dug into the dirt. Pieces of the nose wheel fairing were nearby. The third mark, about 50 feet long, started with the two main landing gear and a trough made by the nose of the aircraft in between them. Approximately 20 feet from the end of the mark, the main landing gear marks ceased and only the nose trough mark continued. This mark ended at the location where the aircraft came to rest inverted. Approximately 10 feet from the end of the third mark the upper surface of the aircraft's left wing impacted the 1,000-foot remaining runway distance marker and dislodged it from its mount. In his report the pilot reported that the approach was "apparently" too steep and that he bounced on the landing. He reported that his intent was to go around if he bounced a second time, however, on the second bounce he heard a "metallic thunk" and decided against going around with a potentially damaged aircraft. Despite his attempt to regain control, the aircraft then veered left off the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65273](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65273-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 15285285, 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: 15285285 - Airframe hours: 9179 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-N2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sawyer Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 1997, 33 hours before - Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IPL, Imperial County, runway 32, 5,304 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 42 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IPL ## 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 19970831024859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970831024859A), Aug 31, 1997: Cessna 152, Imperial, CA, Substantial damage. Student landed downwind. Veered off runway, nosed over onto a distance marker. ## Other investigations on N65273 (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 LAX85LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA120), Jan 22, 1985: Cessna 152 (N65273), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage 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.