# NTSB WPR16LA076: Cessna 152, N152LC, Pullman, WA, February 24, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2016, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Pullman, WA - Coordinates: 46.743888, -117.109443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7439&lon=-117.1094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92763/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92763 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA076 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent overstress failure of the nose landing gear. ## 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: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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); 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 roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); 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 was practicing maneuvers solo in the local flying area. The student pilot reported that, just before touchdown, the stall warning horn sounded briefly and that the airplane landed in a flat, three-point attitude. The nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed, and the airplane started to veer to the right. The student pilot applied left rudder and left brake; however, the airplane veered off the runway into mud and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the NLG steering rods revealed an overstress separation, likely due to the hard landing. No evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction was revealed that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 2016, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N152LC, sustained substantial damage when it veered off the runway and nosed over during landing at Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport (PUW), Pullman, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and tail section. The airplane was registered to and operated by Inter-State Aviation Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from PUW at 1215. In a written report, the pilot stated that after practicing maneuvers in the local flying area, he returned to PUW and executed a touch and go landing with no incident. During his second landing, about 3 to 5 seconds before touchdown, at about 20 feet above ground level, the stall warning horn sounded briefly. The airplane touched down in a flat, three-point landing attitude. Subsequently the nose gear collapsed and the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake; however, the airplane continued to veer off of the runway into mud and nosed over. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane and confirmed that the nose gear had collapsed. The nose gear steering rods were removed from the airplane and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for analysis. The examination of the four pieces of tubes from the nose gear steering rods revealed the fracture faces were mostly on a slant plane and contained features typical of overstress separation with no evidence of pre-existing damage such as corrosion and fatigue cracking. No other evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions was revealed that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N152LC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N152LC-2020-08-02), registration cancelled 2020-08-02, S/N 15280840, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 (NO SERIES) - 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: 15280840 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 8691.2 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Inter-State Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Inter-State Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 2015 - Departed: PUW, Pullman, WA - Destination: PUW, Pullman, WA - Airport: PUW, Pullman/Moscow Rgnl, runway 06, 6,730 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 44 total, 23.8 in this make and model, 13.6 as pilot in command, 2.2 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KPUW ## 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 20160224024159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160224024159A), Feb 24, 2016: Cessna 152, Pullman, WA, Substantial damage. Student pilot conducts landing during solo flight training. A hard landing occurs, resulting in the compromise of the engine and strut mount, as well as the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92763. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 923 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.