Casualties unknown

2003-08-17: Cessna 152 (N68281) — Hamilton, MT

Hamilton, MT, US

On August 17, 2003, a Cessna 152 (registration N68281) was involved in an aviation accident near Hamilton, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the improper recovery from the 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 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During landing, the aircraft bounced four times, with the pilot applying back pressure on each bounce. On the fourth contact, the nose gear buckled, damaging the firewall and left wing.

Landing Sequence

According to the pilot, the aircraft touched down on its main landing gear at a speed slightly higher than normal and bounced. On the second contact with the runway, the pilot applied back pressure on the yoke, causing the aircraft to bounce again, reaching a height of about 12 feet. Prior to the third bounce, the pilot again applied back pressure, resulting in another high bounce. As the aircraft slowed, the pilot believed that adding power would worsen the situation and did not apply any.

Fourth Contact and Damage

On the fourth contact, all three landing gear made contact with the runway. This caused the nose gear to buckle, impacting the firewall. The aircraft came to rest on its nose and left wing, with the tail pointing approximately 45 degrees into the air.

Post-Accident Findings

The pilot reported that despite prior instruction and practice in hard landing recovery, no power was added during the landing sequence. A post-accident examination revealed damage to the firewall and left wing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030903X01444. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.