# NTSB MIA96LA222: Cessna 152, N93102, Stuart, FL, September 3, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 3, 1996, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Stuart, FL
- Coordinates: 27.18984, -80.190551 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1898&lon=-80.1906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA222
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38081/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA222

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a loss of directional control, collapse of the nose gear, and subsequent nose down on the runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

The student pilot stated he was landing with a left crosswind. As he came over the end of the runway, the airplane started to float. He elected not to add power. He failed to round out and made a hard landing on the nose wheel. The airplane bounced and he lost directional control. The nose wheel collided with the runway and collapsed. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose down attitude and came to a stop.

## Factual narrative

On September 3, 1996, about 1210 eastern daylight time, a Cessna  152, N93102, registered to J.R. Leasing Inc, operated by American International, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on landing at Stuart-Whitman Field, Stuart, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Melbourne, Florida, about 1 hour 10 minutes before the accident.

The student pilot stated he was landing with a gusty left crosswind with 20-degree flaps. As he came over the end of the runway, the airplane started to float. He elected not to add any power. He did not round out and made a hard landing on the nose wheel. The airplane bounced resulting in a loss of directional control. The nose wheel collided with the runway and collapsed. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose down attitude and came to a stop.

Review of weather information  from Fort Pierce, Florida, for the time period of the accident, revealed no recorded record of turbulence, downdrafts, gusts or windshear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93102](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93102-2019-05-07), registration cancelled 2019-05-07, S/N 15285402, 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: 15285402
- Airframe hours: 6800
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: American International
- Registered owner: J.R. Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 1996, 86 hours before
- Departed: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Destination: SUA
- Airport: SUA, Stuart-Whitman Field, runway 7, 5,000 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FPR, 20 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 19960903035689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960903035689A), Sep 3, 1996: Cessna 152, Stuart, FL, Substantial damage. Hard nose wheel landing. Bounced. Lost control. Nose wheel folded. Nosed down. Light quartering tailwind.

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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