# NTSB WPR13CA032: Cessna 152, N48340, Long Beach, CA, October 29, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 29, 2012, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.817222, -118.151107 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8172&lon=-118.1511&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 February 27, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85511/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85511
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA032

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to porpoise. The student pilot stated that during the porpoise oscillation, the airplane landed on its nosewheel. Postaccident examination revealed that the engine firewall was bent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to porpoise. The student pilot stated that during the porpoise oscillation the airplane landed on its nose wheel. Post accident examination revealed that the engine firewall was bent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48340](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48340), registered now, S/N 15283326, 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: 15283326
- Airframe hours: 16511
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Candace A Larned Enterprises Inc
- Registered owner: Candace A Larned Enterprises Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 6, 2012
- Departed: LGB, Long Beach, CA
- Destination: LGB, Long Beach, CA
- Airport: LGB, Long Beach Airport (Daugherty), runway 25L, 5,421 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 103 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KLGB

## 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 20121029024029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121029024029A), Oct 29, 2012: Cessna 152, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. On pilots' second "solo" landing in CE-152 with CFI observing from side of runway, the CFI witnessed upon landing the aircraft bounced back into the air. The…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85511. 918 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 918 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383323&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.