# NTSB NYC97LA042: Cessna 152, N48693, Marlboro, NJ, January 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 1997, 10:21 local (15:21 UTC) - Place: Marlboro, NJ - Location: 39.4871° N, 75.3246° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marlboro, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4871&lon=-75.3246&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA042 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose gear. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's failure to perform a go-around. ## 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) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The student pilot landed hard and the nose gear collapsed. According to a witness the airplane touched down and bounced 10 feet into the air. The aircraft then pitched down and hit on the nose, and bounced again, but only about 5 feet up this time. The aircraft again pitched nose down and hit the pavement. On this contact, the nose gear broke off, and the (airplane) skidded on its nose for about 50 feet and came to rest. According to the student pilot, his approach speed was 65 knots, and about 20 feet above the runway, he reduced power to idle. The aircraft subsequently 'settled fast' and bounced. He unsuccessfully tried to recover, indicating that he 'got rigid on (the) control wheel position.' The pilot reported the accident could have been prevented by doing a go-around. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 1997 about 1021 eastern standard time, N48693, a Cessna 152, was substantially damaged when the nose gear collapsed during a hard landing on runway 27at Marlboro Airport, Marlboro, New Jersey. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The local training flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A witness saw the airplane takeoff, remain in the traffic pattern and then return to land. According to the witness; "...I noticed that he came in a little fast, but the aircraft appeared to be under control at this , time: wings level and no over-controlling. He touched down on the two numbers, and bounced 10 feet into the air. The aircraft then pitched down and hit on the nose, and bounced again, but only about 5 feet up this time. The aircraft again pitched nose down and hit the pavement. On this contact, the nose gear broke off, and the (airplane) skidded on its nose for about 50 feet and came to rest . The aircraft came to rest about midway down the runway." According to the student pilot, his approach speed was 65 knots, and about 20 feet above the runway, he reduced power to idle. The aircraft subsequently "settled fast" and bounced. He unsuccessfully tried to recover, indicating that he "got rigid on (the) control wheel position" The pilot reported the accident could have been prevented by doing a go-around. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48693](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48693-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 15283362, built 1979 (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: 15283362 - Airframe hours: 6792 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marlboro Aviation Enterprise - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1996, 82 hours before - Departed: 2N8 - Airport: 2N8, Marlboro, runway 27, 2,156 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °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 19970112047369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970112047369A), Jan 12, 1997: Cessna 152, Matawan, NY, Substantial damage. (-16) ELT battery not checked or inspected by a & p during annual. Airmen used improper landing technique to go around. Flew unairworthy aircraft. ## Other investigations on N48693 (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN13LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA209), Mar 26, 2013: Cessna 152 (N48693), College Station, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the nose landing gear fork during landing due to fatigue. 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.