# NTSB WPR09CA430: Cessna 152, N5155B, Merced, CA, August 31, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 31, 2009, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Merced, CA - Coordinates: 37.380554, -120.568054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3806&lon=-120.5681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Fresno FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74643 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA430 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74643/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74643 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA430 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear strut. ## 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 · Not attained/maintained (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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/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 During the landing flare for a full-stop landing, the airplane touched down hard, and bounced into the air. The student pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but the airplane's nose wheel hit the runway surface with sufficient force to collapse the nose gear strut and to damage the firewall. ## Factual narrative During the landing flare for a full-stop landing, the student pilot's lack of adequate pitch control resulted in the airplane entering a wheelbarrow type oscillation on the nose wheel. Because the student pilot was unable to correct the oscillation, the airplane's nose wheel hit the runway surface with sufficient force to collapse the nose gear strut and to damage the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5155B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5155B-2012-11-28), registration cancelled 2012-11-28, S/N 15283779, built 1979 (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: 15283779 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sierra Academy of Aeronautics - Registered owner: JS Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MER, Merced, CA - Destination: MER, Merced, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MER, Merced/Castle, runway 31, 7,000 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 99 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 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 20090831016969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090831016969A), Aug 31, 2009: Cessna 152, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Some up and down drafts were encountered by the student while on final approach to alternate runway 31, which he attempted to counter with pitch and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74643. 652 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.