# NTSB WPR11CA262: Cessna 152, N89439, Idaho Falls, ID, June 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2011, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Idaho Falls, ID - Coordinates: 43.508888, -112.067222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5089&lon=-112.0672&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 September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 80796 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80796/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80796 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA262 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery. ## 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) - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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) ## 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: 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 pilot reported that he was conducting his third solo flight. On approach to the runway the airplane was at 65 knots with 20 degrees of flaps as the pilot began his landing flare at approximately 8-10 feet. According to the pilot, the airplane then appeared to have lost lift and landed hard on the runway. The airplane bounced into the air and traveled approximately 30 feet before descending toward the ground again. The pilot attempted to pull back on the control yoke before it impacted the runway. Although the airplane responded to the input it struck the ground in a nose down attitude, collapsing the nose landing gear strut and wheel into the fuselage, and the aircraft skidded on its nose about 20 yards. The nose wheel landing gear collapsed and there was substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The pilot stated there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was engaged in his third solo flight. On approach to the runway the airplane was at 65 knots with 20 degrees of flaps and he began his landing flare at approximately 8-10 feet. According to the pilot, the airplane then appeared to have lost lift and came down hard on the runway. The airplane bounced into the air and traveled approximately 30 feet before nosing towards the ground again. The pilot attempted to pull back on the yoke of the aircraft before it impacted the runway. Although the airplane responded to the input it still struck the ground in a nose down attitude, collapsing the nose landing gear strut and wheel into the fuselage, and the aircraft skidded on its nose about 20 yards. The nose wheel gear was collapsed and there was substantial damage to the front left of the fuselage, the firewall, and the propeller. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89439](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89439-2023-07-24), registration cancelled 2023-07-24, S/N 15282748, 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: 15282748 - Airframe hours: 4725 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2010, 23 hours before - Departed: IDA, idaho Falls, ID - Destination: IDA, idaho Falls, ID - Airport: IDA, Idaho Falls, runway 17, 4,051 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: IDA ## 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 20110610009809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110610009809A), Jun 10, 2011: Cessna 152, Idaho Falls, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that during his third solo flight he experanced a gust of wind during a normal landing, the aircraft drifted left and then droped to the runwas… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80796. 607 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 533 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350750&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.