Casualties unknown

Student Pilot Stall During Landing Attempt (N2MS)

Wheeling, IL, US

On March 17, 1994, a Cessna 152 (registration N2MS) operated by Sundmacher, Marjorie M. was involved in an aviation accident near Wheeling, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. 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.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-19Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot with limited recent experience attempted a landing but flared too high, causing the aircraft to bounce and subsequently stall upon recovery attempts.

What happened

The incident occurred during a landing phase of flight involving a student pilot. According to the pilot's report, he initiated the flare for touchdown at an altitude that was too high. As the aircraft began to drift laterally, the pilot pushed the control column forward to lower the nose. The airplane then made initial contact with the ground on its nose gear first. Following this impact, the aircraft bounced back into the air.

Attempting to recover from the bounce, the student pilot applied further control inputs. However, the aircraft entered a stall condition and dropped abruptly to the ground. The report notes that the student pilot had accumulated 30 hours of total flight time at the time of the accident. Recent experience was limited, with only 2 hours of flight time logged within the preceding 90 days prior to this event.

The investigation

The available source material does not provide specific details regarding mechanical examination or post-accident inspection findings. The narrative relies entirely on the pilot's account of the flight dynamics and control inputs during the final moments of the landing attempt.

All Cessna 152 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 17 Mar 1994 Cessna 152 accident near Wheeling, IL?

A student pilot with limited recent experience attempted a landing but flared too high, causing the aircraft to bounce and subsequently stall upon recovery attempts.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 17 Mar 1994 involved a Cessna 152, registration N2MS, operated by Sundmacher, Marjorie M., at Wheeling, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X00877. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.