Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Oak Harbor, WA
Accident Number: GAA18CA461
Date & Time: 07/27/2018, 1130 PDT
Registration: N152LT
Aircraft: Cessna 152
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
Analysis
According to the student pilot, his first solo flight was conducted at an airport that he was not familiar with and he was "very nervous." Although his flight instructor had a hand-held two-way radio to communicate with the student, the instructor's two-way radio malfunctioned, and the student was not able to communicate with the instructor during the flight in the traffic pattern.
On final, the student noticed that the airplane was "getting too low, too fast and I added power." When he felt the landing was assured, he reduced the power, and the airplane bounced. He added that the airplane bounced again and, "I knew something was up but at the moment I froze." The nose landing gear wheel struck the runway hard and separated from the airplane, and it then skidded to a stop.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and the right wing.
The instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had provided more training to address the changes in performance given that he weighed 235 lbs and that he was not occupying the right front seat during the solo flight.
The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Findings
Aircraft
Landing flare - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Student pilot (Cause)
Anxiety/panic - Student pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing-flare/touchdown
Miscellaneous/other
Abnormal runway contact
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Part(s) separation from AC
Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 16, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/30/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 13 hours (Total, all aircraft), 13 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N152LT
Model/Series: 152 No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1981
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Utility
Serial Number: 15285262
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/17/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1669 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 14057 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-235-L2C
Registered Owner: Morcom Aviation Services Inc Dba
Rated Power: 110 hp
Operator: Regal Air
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141); On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KOKH, 194 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1856 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 111°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 500 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 280°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Oak Harbor, WA (OKH)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Oak Harbor, WA (OKH)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1125 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: AJ EISENBERG (OKH)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 193 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Rough
Runway Used: 25
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3265 ft / 25 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 48.251667, -122.673611 (est)
That's too bad. Hopefully this incident didn't scare the student from continuing his pilot training and obtaining his private pilot license. I found it admirable that the CFI took the blame and Murphy's law with the handheld radio.
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