# NTSB WPR23LA029: Cessna 152, N5171B, San Jose, CA, November 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2022, 15:27, time zone not recorded - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.332861, -121.8198 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3329&lon=-121.8198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106288/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106288 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA029 ## Probable cause The student pilots unstabilized approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard 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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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) - [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [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) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, he was performing a solo flight with the intention of staying in the traffic pattern, when after takeoff he was distracted by noise in his headset. On the downwind leg, he unintentionally climbed above traffic pattern altitude while trying to resolve the issue. He then overshot the runway centerline on the final leg while still too high. He brought the power to idle and tried to lose altitude by performing a forward slip. The pilot stated he leveled off over the threshold and the airplane bounced twice after touching the runway. After attempting to regain pitch control, the airplane’s nose dropped, and the propeller and left wing impacted the runway. The left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5171B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5171B-2024-08-29), registration cancelled 2024-08-29, S/N 15283787, 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: 15283787 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 7056 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 SERIES 115 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flying 20s Inc - Registered owner: Flying 20s Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: KRHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31L, 3,099 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 293° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KRHV - METAR: METAR KRHV 132247Z 29008 10SM SKC 15/02 A3011= ## 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 20221113019679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221113019679A), Nov 13, 2022: Cessna 152, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot took off on 11/13/22 at 1523L at Reid-Hillview airport (rhv) in San Jose, CA for his fourth ever solo flight to conduct pattern work. Upon first… ## Other investigations on N5171B (2) 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. - [NTSB NYC87LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA062), Jan 21, 1987: Cessna 152 (N5171B), Orange, MA, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC84LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA150), Apr 28, 1984: Cessna 152 (N5171B), Laconia, NH, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106288. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14777893&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14878354&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=029photo-Rel.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.