# NTSB MIA96LA065: Cessna 152, N68172, Olive Branch, MS, January 14, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 14, 1996, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Olive Branch, MS
- Coordinates: 34.949569, -89.820739 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9496&lon=-89.8207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA065

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND SWERVE AND SUBSEQUENT OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

DURING THE THIRD SOLO FULL STOP LANDING OF THE DAY, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, AND THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE THEN VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ONTO GRASS, AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Factual narrative

On January 14, 1996, about 1530 central standard time, a Cessna 152,N68172, registered to and operated by Douglas Aviation, Inc., was substantially damaged while landing at the Olive Branch Airport, Olive Branch, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight.  The student pilot, the sole occupant,was not injured. The flight originated about 5 minutes earlier.

The student pilot stated that the accident occurred on his third full stop solo landing attempt of the day.  The student's CFI who witnessed the accident stated that the airplane touched down, bounced, then landed on the centerline of the runway.  The airplane then veered off the left side of the runway onto the grass and came to rest with the nose landing gear collapsed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68172](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68172-2007-02-28), registration cancelled 2007-02-28, S/N 15282163, built 1978 (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: 152-82163
- Airframe hours: 5408
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Douglas Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 20, 1995, 40 hours before
- Departed: OLV
- Airport: OLV, Olive Branch, runway 18, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 17; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MEM, 10 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 19960114002499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960114002499A), Jan 14, 1996: Cessna 152, Olive Branch, MS, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing. Came back down on angle. Lost control. Left runway. Collapsed nose gear.

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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