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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

July 16, 1997 · Cessna 152 · N4870B

Sherman, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Sherman, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N4870B
Operator
Randy Livingston
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW97LA271

A witness at the airport reported that the airplane landed hard on runway 16 and the pilot lost control after the airplane porpoised three times, collapsing the nose landing gear on the second bounce. The witness added that after the propeller impacted the runway, the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the airplane at the accident site by the FAA inspector confirmed the evidence of propeller slashes on the pavement. The operator stated that the student pilot was in the United States on a student visa to learn to fly, and he had accumulated a total of 18 hours of flight at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delayed landing flare and his improper bounced landing recovery technique.

Full Narrative

On July 16, 1997, at 1745 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N4870B, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing at the Sherman Municipal Airport, near Sherman, Texas. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned by Whitmire Enterprises Inc., and operated by the South Central Flying Service, both of Sherman, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed from the Sherman Municipal Airport at approximately 1630. A witness at the airport reported that the airplane landed hard on runway 16 and the pilot lost control after the airplane porpoised three times, collapsing the nose landing gear on the second bounce. The witness added that after the propeller impacted the runway, the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the 1979 model airplane at the accident site by the FAA inspector confirmed the evidence of propeller slashes on the pavement. The inspector added that the engine firewall was buckled, both wings sustained structural damage and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The inspector further stated that the student pilot was in the United States from Poland on a student visa to learn to fly, and he had accumulated a total of 18 hours of flight at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:45 CDT
Nearest AirportSherman Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway16
Runway Length4005 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN4870B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRandy Livingston
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 33 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 6 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data