# NTSB SEA08CA125: Cessna 152, N68353, Redding, CA, May 6, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 5, 2008, 21:20 local (May 6, 2008, 04:20 UTC)
- Place: Redding, CA
- Coordinates: 40.508888, -122.293334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5089&lon=-122.2933&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67959/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA125

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while practicing night landings he misjudged the timing of the touchdown flare, resulting in the airplane touching down hard in a nose low attitude.  Both lower engine mounts were broken and the top of the aft fuselage was buckled. The pilot reported that no anomalies existed with the airplane prior to the flight.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot reported that while practicing night landings he misjudged the timing of the touchdown flare, resulting in the airplane touching down hard in a nose low attitude.  Both lower engine mounts were broken and the top of the aft fuselage was buckled. The pilot reported that no anomalies existed with the airplane prior to the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68353](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68353-2019-01-29), registration cancelled 2019-01-29, S/N 15282279, built 1978 (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: 15282279
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kenneth A Tyler
- Registered owner: Gen Hakamata
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: O85, Redding, CA
- Destination: RDD, Redding, CA
- Airport: RDD, Redding Municipal Airport, runway 30, 5,067 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 168 total, 11 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 50° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: RDD

## 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 20080505835749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080505835749A), May 5, 2008: Cessna 152, Redding, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) During night time operation at the Redding (rdd) airport the pilot missed judged his flare point and hit the nose wheel to the point that the tire blew…

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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