Casualties unknown

1991-03-12: Cessna 152 (N69095) — Caldwell Flight Academy — Caldwell, NJ

Caldwell, NJ, US

On March 12, 1991, a Cessna 152 (registration N69095) operated by Caldwell Flight Academy was involved in an aviation accident near Caldwell, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during the approach and landing, resulting in a hard touchdown that overstressed the nose gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a night approach, the pilot attempted a touch-and-go but went around due to speed control issues. On the second attempt for a full stop, the aircraft landed hard, causing the nose gear to collapse.

What happened

The pilot was conducting his first approach to land at night when he initially planned to execute a touch-and-go maneuver. However, he experienced difficulty reducing airspeed during the final phase of the approach. Consequently, he decided to initiate a go-around.

On the second approach, the pilot elected to perform a full-stop landing. During this landing sequence, the aircraft touched down with excessive force. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse upon contact with the runway surface.

The investigation

A post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the mechanical condition of the systems involved. The inspection disclosed no problem with either the flight controls or the airspeed indicator, ruling out equipment failure as a primary factor in the incident.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during the approach and landing, resulting in a hard touchdown that overstressed the nose gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X16683. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.