Casualties unknown

Student Pilot Bounces During Landing, Overruns Runway at Melbourne (N5530Q)

Melbourne, FL, US

On March 28, 2002, a Cessna 152 (registration N5530Q) operated by Phoenix East Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Melbourne, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The students pilot's failure to perform a go-around after a bounced landing condition that resulted in the on-ground collision with a ditch. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on a solo cross-country flight bounced several times during landing on runway 4 at Melbourne, Florida, overran the 3,000-foot runway, struck a ditch, and came to rest inverted.

Incident Details

A student pilot on a solo cross‑country flight was conducting a landing at Melbourne, Florida, when the airplane bounced multiple times during touchdown. The aircraft subsequently overran the 3,000‑foot runway, struck a ditch, and came to rest inverted.

Flight Plan

The student pilot reported that his cross‑country itinerary included Daytona Beach, Vero Beach, Melbourne, and a return to Daytona Beach. Approaching Melbourne, the Air Traffic Control Tower cleared him to land on runway 4.

Landing and Overrun

During the landing rollout, the airplane bounced several times, exited the departure end of the runway, and collided with a ditch. The impact caused the airplane to flip over, ending inverted.

Pilot's Assessment

The pilot stated that performing a go‑around would have prevented the accident. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or injuries were provided in the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020402X00440. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.