# NTSB SEA96LA149: Cessna 152, N4897P, Salt Lake City, UT, July 10, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1996, 20:08 local (Jul 10, 1996, 02:08 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.809722, -111.939086 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8097&lon=-111.9391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42412
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42412/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA149

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during go-around.  The student pilot's improper level-off was a factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - performed, pilot in command
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
- Nose over, go-around (vfr)

## Analysis

After touchdown, the airplane ballooned, touched down again, then ballooned again.  The student pilot executed a go-around with insufficient airspeed, and lowered the nose when he heard the stall warning.  The aircraft drifted to the left of the runway where it impacted the terrain nose down and nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On July 9, 1996, at 2008 mountain daylight time, N4897P, a Cessna 152, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after landing at Salt Lake City, Utah.  The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was uninjured.  No flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight.  There was no report of the ELT actuating.

The student stated that the airplane ballooned after touchdown, touched down again, and ballooned again.   He attempted a go-around, lowering the nose when he heard a stall warning, and the aircraft drifted to the left side of the runway where it impacted nose down and nosed over about 100 feet to the left side of the runway, sustaining damage to the landing gear, fuselage and right wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4897P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4897P-2010-08-23), registration cancelled 2010-08-23, S/N 15284838, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 152284838
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: American Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SLC
- Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City Intl, runway 35, 9,596 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 31 total, 29 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19960709016199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960709016199A), Jul 9, 1996: Cessna 152, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. Ballooned twice on landing. Began go around drifted. Stalled. Hit nose first and flipped over.

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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