Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Pullman, WA — 2016-02-24

Final reportWPR16LA076
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Date
2016-02-24
Location
Pullman, WA, USA
Airport
PUW
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N152LC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent overstress failure of the nose landing gear.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was practicing maneuvers solo in the local flying area. The student pilot reported that, just before touchdown, the stall warning horn sounded briefly and that the airplane landed in a flat, three-point attitude. The nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed, and the airplane started to veer to the right. The student pilot applied left rudder and left brake; however, the airplane veered off the runway into mud and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the NLG steering rods revealed an overstress separation, likely due to the hard landing. No evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction was revealed that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing after stall warning sounded.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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