Casualties unknown

2006-05-08: Cessna 150L (N10964) — Levelland, TX

Levelland, TX, US

On May 8, 2006, a Cessna 150L (registration N10964) was involved in an aviation accident near Levelland, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot misjudged the landing flare, resulting in a bounced landing, and during recovery he inadvertently pushed the yoke forward into a nose-low attitude, causing the nose landing gear to separate and the airplane to nose over. 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

A student pilot on his second solo flight misjudged the landing flare, causing a bounce. During recovery, he inadvertently pushed the yoke forward, leading to nose gear separation and the airplane nosing over off the runway.

Accident Overview

A student pilot with 23 total flight hours was conducting his second solo flight in a tricycle-gear single-engine airplane. The accident occurred during his second solo landing of the day on runway 17, a 6,100-foot-long by 75-foot-wide asphalt runway.

Sequence of Events

As the student pilot approached landing, he misjudged the flare, causing the airplane to bounce on the runway. In attempting to recover from the bounced landing, he inadvertently pushed the yoke forward, resulting in a nose-low attitude. The nose landing gear then impacted the runway and separated from the airframe. The airplane skidded down runway 17, departed the edge of the runway, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted in the grass.

Aftermath

There was no fire, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was from 180 degrees at 5 knots.

Investigation Findings

The accident sequence was initiated by the student pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare, which led to a bounced landing. During the recovery, an inadvertent forward yoke input placed the airplane in a nose-low attitude, resulting in the nose gear impact and separation, followed by the nose-over.

Probable cause

The student pilot misjudged the landing flare, resulting in a bounced landing, and during recovery he inadvertently pushed the yoke forward into a nose-low attitude, causing the nose landing gear to separate and the airplane to nose over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20060522X00597. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.