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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

October 10, 2002 · Cessna 152 · N520SU

Tulsa, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 10, 2002
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Tulsa, OK
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N520SU
Operator
Oklahoma State University Flight Center Tulsa
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW03LA009

While practicing a short field approach, the pilot stated that he was trying to "hit the numbers" but was not lined up correctly. After the airplane touched down hard and bounced, the pilot added power and brought the nose up to an excessively nose high attitude. The airplane subsequently stalled and impacted the runway to the left of centerline in a nose low, left wing down attitude.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain airspeed. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to align with the runway.

Full Narrative

On October 10, 2002, at 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 single-engine airplane, N520SU, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the Oklahoma State University Flight Center, Tulsa, and registered to Christiansen Aviation Inc., Wilmington, Delaware. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The flight originated from Tulsa at 1730. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to practice various types of takeoffs and landings in preparation for the "end-of-course" checkride. The pilot stated that while practicing a short field approach, "I was trying to hit the numbers, but on short final I was not lined up correctly, and did not feel that I was going to make the runway." The pilot reported that after the airplane touched down hard and bounced, he added power and brought the nose up to an excessively nose high attitude. The airplane subsequently stalled and impacted the runway just to the left of centerline in a nose low, left wing down attitude, coming to rest in an upright position. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported the propeller and nose gear had separated, four feet of the left wing was damaged, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 CDT
Nearest AirportRichard Lloyd Jones Jr Airport (0nm)
Runway1R
Runway Length4207 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN520SU
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorOklahoma State University Flight Center Tulsa
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L26 · Reciprocating · 110
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 2900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 59
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data