# NTSB SEA03LA057: Cessna 152, N48733, Butte, MT, April 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2003, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Butte, MT - Coordinates: 45.954723, -112.497497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9547&lon=-112.4975&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Helena FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56796 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56796/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty variable wind conditions and his improper flare. Factors include gusty and variable winds . ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot had been circling near the airport waiting for the gusty variable winds to become more steady. When he started his approach, there was a crosswind of about five knots, but just about the time he was going to start his landing flare, the aircraft encountered a stronger gust. This resulted in the aircraft ballooning upward. The student pilot attempted to correct the ballooning by pushing forward on the control yoke, but his actions resulted in the aircraft striking the runway hard enough to bend the firewall and to start a fuel leak in the engine compartment. The pilot exited the aircraft while it was still on the runway, and soon after he was out of the cockpit, the aircraft caught on fire. The pilot was able to put the fire out once, but it reignited, and the aircraft was ultimately consumed by the flames. According to the pilot, there did not seem to be any problems with any of the aircraft's systems or fight controls. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2003, approximately 1545 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N48733, was destroyed by fire after a hard landing at Bert Mooney Field, Butte, Montana. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by Butte Aviation, was destroyed by the post-impact fire. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight, which was initiated at the same location about two hours and fifteen minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the student pilot, he had been circling near the airport waiting for the gusty variable winds to become more steady. Reportedly, when he started his approach, there was a crosswind of about five knots, but just about the time he was going to start his landing flare, the aircraft encountered a stronger gust. This resulted in the aircraft ballooning upward. The student pilot attempted to correct the ballooning by pushing forward on the control yoke, but his actions resulted in the aircraft striking the runway hard enough to bend the firewall and to start a fuel leak in the engine compartment. The pilot exited the aircraft while it was still on the runway, and soon after he was out of the cockpit, the aircraft caught on fire. The pilot was able to put the fire out once, but it reignited, and the aircraft was ultimately consumed by the flames. According to the pilot, there did not seem to be any problems with any of the aircraft's systems or fight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48733](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48733-2004-02-13), registration cancelled 2004-02-13, S/N 15280942, built 1977 (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: 80942 - Airframe hours: 7445 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Butte Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2003, 65 hours before - Departed: BTM, Butte, MT - Destination: BTM, Butte, MT - Airport: BTM, Bert Mooney Field, runway 33, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 20030407004049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030407004049A), Apr 7, 2003: Cessna 152, Butte, MT, Destroyed. (-23) Solo student pilot stated he ballooned on flare due to gust of wind, and overcorrected with nose-down control input, causing hard landing, nose wheel… 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.