# NTSB SEA93LA123: Cessna 152, N43LL, Cheyenne, WY, May 27, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1993, 10:48 local (16:48 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.140125, -104.78955 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1401&lon=-104.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41713
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41713/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA123

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. FACTORS INCLUDE STRONG CROSSWINDS, DOWNDRAFTS, AND AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, TRIED TO LAND LONG IN A STRONG AND VARIABLE CROSSWIND. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DOWNDRAFT, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXERCISE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION TO STOP THE EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT THEREFORE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED TWICE, AND EXPERIENCED A NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE UPON FINAL TOUCHDOWN.

## Factual narrative

On May 27, 1993, at 1048 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 152, N43LL, experienced a gear collapse during a hard landing at Cheyenne Airport, Cheyenne, Wyoming. The FAA certificated student pilot was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The solo cross country flight, which departed Jeffco Airport, Denver, Colorado at 0953 MDT, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft, which had its ELT activated by the impact, was on a VFR flight plan at the time of the accident.

The student pilot, who had 42 hours total time, said that he was about 300 feet down the runway, and about 40 feet in the air, while attempting to land long in strong variable crosswinds. He said that he hit a strong downdraft, and the aircraft began to descend at an excessive rate. He was unable to arrest the descent rate in time to keep the aircraft from landing hard and bouncing back into the air. The aircraft bounced twice, and on its third contact with the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the nose of the aircraft impacted the runway. After the nose touched the runway, the aircraft slid off the side of the concrete surface into the dirt.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43LL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43LL-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 152-79762, 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: 152-79762
- Airframe hours: 6463
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Colorado Aircraft Services Inc
- Registered owner: Colorado Aircraft Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 19, 1993, 6 hours before
- Departed: BJC, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CYS, Cheyenne Airport, runway 26, 9,200 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS, 1 nm away

## 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 19930527015409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930527015409A), May 27, 1993: Cessna 152, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on hard landing. Collapsed landing gear.

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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