Casualties unknown

1998-09-26: Cessna 152 (N89644) — Oxford, CT

Oxford, CT, US

On September 26, 1998, a Cessna 152 (registration N89644) was involved in an aviation accident near Oxford, CT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience. 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 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a fourth landing attempt, a pilot encountered a gust of wind, overcorrected, causing three bounces and a hard nose-gear landing. The pilot reported 85 flight hours, with 20 in the make and model.

Incident Overview

A pilot, conducting a series of takeoffs and landings, experienced difficulties during the fourth landing attempt. After completing three previous landings, the pilot reported encountering a gust of wind during the final approach. Attempting to compensate, the pilot overcorrected, leading to a sequence of events that resulted in a hard landing.

Sequence of Events

The pilot stated that the airplane bounced three times before finally landing hard on the nose gear. In a post-incident statement, the pilot acknowledged the mistake, saying, "This was my fault. Instead of correcting, I tried to put the airplane down as quickly as possible." This indicates an attempt to expedite the landing rather than performing a go-around.

Pilot Experience

The pilot had accumulated a total of 85 hours of flight experience, with 20 hours specifically in the make and model of the airplane involved. No further details about the aircraft type or registration were provided in the source.

Contributing Factors

The incident was attributed to the pilot's overcorrection in response to a gust of wind. The pilot's decision to force the airplane onto the runway instead of executing a go-around likely exacerbated the situation. No other factors, such as mechanical issues or weather conditions beyond the gust, were mentioned.

Outcome

The hard landing resulted in damage to the nose gear. No injuries were reported in the source. The pilot accepted responsibility for the incident.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11084. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.