# NTSB MIA89LA169: Cessna 152, N94622, Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1989, 11:16 local (15:16 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.189933, -80.170738 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1899&lon=-80.1707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32446
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32446/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA169

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LATE FLARE WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING THAT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT & HIS SON WERE RETURNING FROM A FLT IN THE LOCAL AREA. TWR PERSNL & A CFI IN HIS ACFT AT THE APRCH END OF THE RWY, OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKING A FULL FLAP, STEEP APRCH. THE NOSE GEAR HIT FIRST, THEN THE MAINS WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO 'MAKE THE STRUTS BEND SEVERELY' & BOUNCE ABOUT 20 FT INTO THE AIR. ON THE LAST IMPACT, PARTS OF THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT AND THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP ON ITS NOSE & PROP. THE PLT STATED THE TOUCHDOWN FELT NORMAL TO HIM, BUT HE MAY HAVE LOWERED THE NOSE TOO FAST. HE STATED THAT HE LOOKED AT THE AIRSPEED IND DURING THE FLARE & SAW ABOUT 45 KTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE MAY HAVE OBSERVED SOME PRE-EXISTING CRACK(S) IN THE FAILED COMPONENTS, BUT MAINT PERSNL FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING CRACK(S).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94622](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94622-2008-06-26), registration cancelled 2008-06-26, S/N 15285745, built 1983 (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: 15285745
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cavair Flight School
- Registered owner: Cavair Flight School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: FXE
- Airport: FXE, Fort Lauberdale Executive, runway 13, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 124 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FXE

## 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 19890604028059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890604028059A), Jun 4, 1989: Cessna 152, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Failed to flare on landing. Bounced high twice, came down hard on nose wheel which separated. Felt normal to pilot

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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