# NTSB MIA94LA186: Cessna 152, N757GD, Palatka, FL, July 29, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1994, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Palatka, FL
- Coordinates: 29.639251, -81.649597 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6393&lon=-81.6496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37580/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA186

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE AND FAILURE TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

## 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)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS EXECUTING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING WHEN HE LANDED HARD. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THEN LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR, WHICH COLLAPSED DAMAGING THE FIREWALL.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 1994, about 1000 eastern daylight time, N757GD, a Cessna 152 registered to Flight Enterprises Inc., landed hard on landing at Kay Larkin Airport, Palatka, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the same airport about 30 minutes earlier.

The student pilot landed hard, bounced, and the nose gear collapsed, damaging the firewall. Multiple attempts to have the operator or student pilot report the accident were met with negative results.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N757GD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1520076
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Enterprises Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 28J
- Destination: 28J, FL
- Airport: 28J, Kay Larkin Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 26 nm away

## 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 19940729019849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940729019849A), Jul 29, 1994: Cessna 152, Palatka, FL, Substantial damage. Narrative: a 64 year old student pilot with 36 hrs of dual instruction was practicing takeoffs and landings solo when he landed on the nose wheel, collapsing…

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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