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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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October 18, 1997 · Cessna 152 · N93116

Norman, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 18, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Norman, OK
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N93116
Operator
Airman Flight School
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW98LA023

During his first solo landing, the student pilot flared the airplane too high. Subsequently, a high sink rate developed and the airplane landed hard and bounced. The student pilot added power in an attempt to execute a go-around; however, the airplane touched down again, bounced, and then touched down nose wheel first collapsing the nose landing gear.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a porpoise and subsequent collapse of the nose gear.

Full Narrative

On October 18, 1997, at 0940 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N93116, was substantially damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed following a hard landing at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport in Norman, Oklahoma. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to Christiansen Aviation, Inc., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and operated by Airman Flight School, Inc., of Norman. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight which originated at 0930. In a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the student pilot reported that he was making his first solo landing, flared the airplane "too high," and "bounced" the landing. He added power in an attempt to execute a go-around; however, the airplane touched down again, bounced, and then touched down nose wheel first collapsing the nose landing gear. The student's flight instructor witnessed the accident and provided a written statement to the NTSB IIC stating that the student "flared too soon allowing the aircraft to float." He further stated that the "aircraft's airspeed bleed off, [resulting in it] sinking rapidly toward the runway." Another witness reported that the "pilot pitched up too high and landed with a hard bounce on the main gear." The airplane then "bounced a second time, with all three wheels," became "airborne again and came down nose first." The nose landing gear "buckled," and the airplane "slid to a stop on its propeller." According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the nose landing gear was bent back under the fuselage, and the propeller, engine mount, and firewall were damaged.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:40 CDT
Nearest AirportUniv. Of Okla. Westheimer (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length4750 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN93116
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAirman Flight School
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-H2AD · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:59
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data