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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 2, 2003 · Cessna 152 · N757GL

Pontiac, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 2, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Pontiac, MI
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N757GL
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI03LA294

The nose landing gear collapsed during a recovery from a bounced landing. The student pilot reported that he was practicing landings on runway 9L, and upon touchdown during the second landing attempt, the airplane "bounced into the air". The pilot stated the airplane settled back to the runway and the nose landing gear touched down prior to the main landing gear. The pilot reported that the nose landing gear "folded and the aircraft veered to the left edge of the runway and then to the right, stopping in the middle of the runway." The student pilot reported his total flight time was 179 hours, of which 52 hours were as pilot-in-command. The pilot had flown 22 hours during the previous 90 days and 14 hours during the previous 30 days. Besides the accident flight, the pilot had not flown during the previous 24 hours. The local winds approximately 13 minutes prior to the accident were 060 degrees true at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. The local winds approximately 26 minutes after the accident were 120 degrees true at 7 knots, winds direction variable between 100 and 160 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's inadequate recovery from the bounced landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the variable crosswind, the misjudged flare that resulted in the bounced landing and the subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.

Full Narrative

On September 2, 2003, at 1506 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757GL, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when the nose landing gear collapsed while landing on runway 9L (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Oakland County International Airport (PTK), Pontiac, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The solo-instructional flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from PTK at 1320. According to the student pilot's written statement, he was practicing landings on runway 9L, and upon touchdown during the second landing attempt, the airplane "bounced into the air". The pilot stated the airplane settled back to the runway and the nose landing gear touched down prior to the main landing gear. The pilot reported that the nose landing gear "folded and the aircraft veered to the left edge of the runway and then to the right[,] stopping in the middle of the runway." The student pilot reported his total flight time was 179 hours, of which 52 hours were as pilot-in-command. The pilot had flown 22 hours during the previous 90 days and 14 hours during the previous 30 days. Besides the accident flight, the pilot had not flown during the previous 24 hours. The PTK automated surface observing system (ASOS) recorded the following information: At 1453: Wind 060 degrees true at 6 knots gusting to 15 knots; 10 statute mile visibility; few clouds at 4,000 feet above ground level (agl), scattered clouds at 9,000 feet agl; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; dew point of 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.12 inches of mercury. At 1532: Wind 120 degrees true at 7 knots, wind direction variable between 100 and 160 degrees; 10 statute mile visibility; scattered clouds at 4,000 feet agl, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet agl; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; dew point of 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:06 EDT
Nearest AirportOakland County International (0nm)
Runway9L
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN757GL
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 75 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data