# NTSB WPR09CA172: Cessna 152, N95429, Ellensburg, WA, March 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 19, 2009, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Ellensburg, WA - Coordinates: 47.033054, -120.530555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0331&lon=-120.5306&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 June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73573/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA172 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot remained in the traffic pattern for his first solo flight and completed one uneventful touch-and-go landing. On the second landing approach, the airplane floated during the landing flare. The student pushed the control yoke forward and the nose gear of the airplane struck the ground. The airplane bounced, entered a porpoise, and the nose gear collapsed. During the landing sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative The student pilot remained in the traffic pattern for his first solo flight and completed one uneventful touch-and-go landing. On the second landing approach, the airplane floated during the landing flare. The student pushed the control yoke forward and the nose gear of the airplane struck the ground. The airplane bounced, entered a porpoise, and the nose gear collapsed. During the landing sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95429](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95429), registered now, S/N 15285892, built 1984 (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: 15285892 - Airframe hours: 8131 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Midstate Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Midstate Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 13, 2009, 21 hours before - Departed: ELN, Ellensburg, WA - Destination: ELN, Ellensburg, WA - Airport: ELN, Bowers Field, runway 07, 5,590 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ELN ## 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 20090319002529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090319002529A), Mar 19, 2009: Cessna 152, Ellensburg, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot lost control of aircraft during initial solo flight landing, 2nd landing of the solo flight. During the second landing the aircraft… 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.