# NTSB NYC89LA160: Cessna 152, N4953B, Oneida, NY, July 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1989, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Oneida, NY
- Coordinates: 43.079238, -75.649299 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0792&lon=-75.6493&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 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA160

## Probable cause

LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING DUE TO WIND CHANGE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY DUE TO IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT AND A DELAYED RESPONSE TO THE BALLOONING OF THE ACFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

CESSNA 152 ENCOUNTERED A CHANGE IN DIRECTION OF WIND DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND AT ONEIDA COUNTY AIRPORT AND COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE WIND CHANGE CAUSED HER TO FLARE TOO SOON AND THE AIRCRAFT BALLOONED AND PORPOISED, EVEN THOUGH THE THROTTLE HAD BEEN PUSHED IN, THE RESPONSE WAS TOO LATE TO RECOVER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4953B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4953B), registered now, S/N 15283721 (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: 15283721
- Airframe hours: 3459
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bfb Associates
- Registered owner: Bfb Associates
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1989, 82 hours before
- Departed: UCA, UTICA, NY
- Airport: UCA, Oneida Co., runway 33, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 49 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19890702024499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890702024499A), Jul 2, 1989: Cessna 152, Utica, NY, Substantial damage. Flared too soon. Ballooned, came down hard in the runway and porpoised.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
