MIA04CA116

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Sarasota, FL · August 3, 2004

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 3, 2004, 11:58 local (15:58 UTC)
Place
Sarasota, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N218JACessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 3, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20040803023259A
Case key
59866

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

On this page

Probable cause

The student pilot's incorrect recovery following a bounced landing resulting in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear.

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.

Nose gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown
Recovery from bounced landing - incorrectPilot in commandCause
Touchdown - excessive
Landing gear,nose gear - collapsed

Analysis

The student pilot stated that on the day of the accident prior to the accident flight, she flew with her flight instructor on two separate flights. During both, she performed touch-and-go landings. Following the second flight, her instructor exited the airplane, and the flight departed and remained in the traffic pattern where she performed one touch-and-go landing. The flight remained in the traffic pattern and during the second touch-and-go landing, the airplane touched down and bounced two times. After the second bounce she reduced power and lowered the nose but the airplane then bounced again. Following the third bounce, she heard the stall warning horn and the "nose dropped." She then heard the propeller contacting the runway. The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported the student's first approach was similar to the landings she had performed when he was in the airplane, and the approach for the second landing appeared good. He noted the flare was good and for some reason, the airplane bounced two times then touched down collapsing the nose landing gear.

Factual narrative

On August 3, 2004, about 1158 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N218JA, registered to and operated by Jones Flying Service, Inc., experienced a loss of control while landing at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight from the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1150, from the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport.

The student pilot stated that on the day of the accident prior to the accident flight, she flew with her flight instructor on two separate flights. During both, she performed touch-and-go landings. Following the second flight, her instructor exited the airplane, and the flight departed and remained in the traffic pattern where she performed one touch-and-go landing. The flight remained in the traffic pattern and during the second touch-and-go landing, the airplane touched down and bounced two times. After the second bounce she reduced power and lowered the nose but the airplane then bounced again. Following the third bounce, she heard the stall warning horn and the "nose dropped." She then heard the propeller contacting the runway.

The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported the student's first approach was similar to the landings she had performed when he was in the airplane, and the approach for the second landing appeared good. He noted the flare was good and for some reason, the airplane bounced two times then touched down collapsing the nose landing gear.

Aircraft

Registration
N218JA
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15285307
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Jones Flying Service, Inc.
Registered owner
Jones Flying Service, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Departed
KSRQ · Sarasota, FL
Destination
KSRQ · Sarasota, FL
Airport
KSRQ · Sarasota/Bradenton Int'l, runway 22

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
Student pilot
Age
22
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
18 total · 18 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N218JA · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.