Casualties unknown

2003-12-10: Cessna 150M (N63149) — International Airline Training Academy, Inc. — Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ, US

On December 10, 2003, a Cessna 150M (registration N63149) operated by International Airline Training Academy, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Tucson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's misjudged flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a pilot induced porpoise/oscillation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

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

An airplane experienced a hard landing and porpoised down the runway after an extended flare, resulting in the nose wheel collapsing.

Event Description

During the landing, the pilot initiated the flare one-third of the way down the runway. The approach speed was slightly higher than normal, causing the flare to be longer than expected. When the aircraft reached the midpoint of the runway, the pilot further raised the nose in an attempt to touch down. At this point, the pilot realized the airplane was too high for a typical touchdown and was also slow. The airplane subsequently landed hard, bounced three times, and the nose wheel collapsed.

Landing Sequence

The pilot began the flare early, approximately 1/3 down the runway. The slightly elevated approach speed extended the flare duration. As the airplane passed the halfway mark, the pilot increased nose-up input to initiate touchdown. The combination of excessive height and low speed resulted in a hard impact. The airplane then porpoised, bouncing three times, before the nose wheel structure failed.

Outcome

After the series of bounces, the nose wheel collapsed. The landing was completed with the nose gear unable to support the aircraft. Further details regarding the extent of damage or any injuries were not specified in the source material.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040712X00951. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.