# NTSB NYC99LA227: Cessna 152, N5337L, Sanford, ME, September 13, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1999, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, ME
- Location: 43.3938° N, 70.7080° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANFORD SEACOAST RGNL (SFM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3938&lon=-70.7080&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47511/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA227

## Probable cause

Improper recovery 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
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot was executing an approach to land with a head wind.  The approach was normal, and he classified his airspeed as 'good.'  The pilot reported that just before touchdown a gust of wind from the right lifted the airplane.  The airplane started to bounce, and on the third bounce, the nose wheel collapsed.  Approximately 10 minutes after the accident, winds were reported as 150 degrees magnetic at 7 knots.

## Factual narrative

On September 13, 1999, at 1445 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5337L, was substantially damaged during a bounced landing at Sanford Municipal Airport, Sanford, Maine.  The certificated private pilot was not injured, and meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight that originated from Sanford.  No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he was executing an approach to land on runway 14.  The approach was normal, and he classified his airspeed as "good."  He added that just before touchdown, a gust of wind from the right lifted the airplane.  The airplane started to bounce, and on the third bounce, the nose wheel collapsed.

An automated weather observation taken approximately 10 minutes after the accident recorded the wind as 150 degrees magnetic at 7 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5337L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5337L), registered now, S/N 15284296, built 1980 (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: 15284296
- Airframe hours: 8457
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sanford Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1999, 2 hours before
- Departed: SFM, ME
- Airport: SFM, Sanford Regioanl, runway 14, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 89 total, 52 in this make and model, 54 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SFM

## 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 19990913042409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990913042409A), Sep 13, 1999: Cessna 152, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot was executing an approach to land with a head wind. The approach was normal, and he classified his airspeed as 'good.' The pilot reported that…

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.