Aviation Accident Summary FTW98LA346

NORMAN, OK, USA

Aircraft #1

N93116

Cessna 152

Analysis

The solo student pilot lost control of the airplane following a hard landing after the airplane began to porpoise and the student pilot was unable to recover. The student pilot had been practicing touch and go landings. The flight instructor, who was supervising the solo flight from the ramp, observed the first touch and go to be 'ok.' During the second approach, the instructor noticed that the student flared 'improperly' and the student pilot recovered by executing a go around prior to touching down. On the third touch and go, he observed the student flare 'improperly' again. Upon touch down, the aircraft began to porpoise. During the porpoise, the propeller struck the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed.

Factual Information

On August 3, 1998, at 1040 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N93116, owned and operated by Airman Flight School of Norman, Oklahoma, was substantially damaged during landing at Westheimer Field, Norman, Oklahoma. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 supervised solo instructional flight. According to the flight instructor who was supervising the flight from the ramp, the student pilot was performing touch and go landings. He observed the first touch and go to be "ok." During the second approach, the instructor noticed that the student flared "improperly" and made a go around without touching down. On the third touch and go, he observed the student flare "improperly" again. Following a hard landing, the aircraft began to porpoise. While attempting to recover, the propeller struck the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed. Structural damage found by a FAA inspector was a buckled engine firewall, and wrinkled lower fuselage skin.

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's delayed landing flare resulting in a hard landing and his improper recovery procedures for a bounced landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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