On July 16, 1987, a Cessna 152 (registration N4967B) was involved in an aviation accident near Savoy, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent porpoising that caused the nose gear to fail. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot's nose gear collapsed after porpoising during a touch-and-go landing on his initial solo flight. The aircraft touched down flat and fast, leading to three bounces before coming to rest.
What happened
A student pilot was conducting his initial solo flight at an airport where he had been instructed to perform touch-and-go landings. During the second landing attempt, the pilot failed to achieve the proper flare attitude required for a smooth touchdown. Consequently, the aircraft contacted the runway surface in a flat configuration and at excessive speed.
This improper touchdown caused the aircraft to begin porpoising, or bouncing longitudinally along the runway. After approximately three bounces, the structural integrity of the landing gear was compromised. The nose gear failed under the stress of the repeated impacts, causing the aircraft to come to a final rest on the ground.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent porpoising that caused the nose gear to fail.
What happened in the 16 Jul 1987 Cessna 152 accident near Savoy, IL?
A student pilot's nose gear collapsed after porpoising during a touch-and-go landing on his initial solo flight. The aircraft touched down flat and fast, leading to three bounces before coming to rest.
Were there any fatalities in the 16 Jul 1987 Cessna 152 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 16 Jul 1987 involved a Cessna 152, registration N4967B, at Savoy, IL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain proper control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent porpoising that caused the nose gear to fail.
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