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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

December 21, 1996 · Cessna 152 · N96049

Phoenix, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 21, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N96049
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX97LA074

The student pilot was on his first solo flight, and had successfully completed two landings. After the third approach, the aircraft touched down on the nose wheel, then it entered a porpoise. The nose gear then collapsed.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise and subsequent overload failure of the nose gear.

Full Narrative

On December 21, 1996, at 1016 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N96049, porpoised on landing and collapsed the nose landing gear at the Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was owned and operated by Superstition Air Service of Phoenix, and was engaged in a student solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, for a local area instructional flight about 0900 on the day of the accident. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the site and interviewed the student, the pilot was on his first solo flight and had completed two landings successfully. On the third approach, the aircraft touched down on the nose wheel and then entered a porpoise. The nose gear then collapsed.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:16 MST
Nearest AirportDeer Valley (0nm)
Runway7L
Runway Length4500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN96049
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 22 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 14 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 16000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 10 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data