Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise motion of the airplane and subsequent damage.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The solo student pilot said that while landing, he did not 'flare properly,' and the airplane touched down nose wheel first. The pilot reported that he was unable to prevent 'porpoising' of the airplane. After bouncing several times, the airplane exited the runway and came to a stop in the grass with damage to the firewall.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 27, 1996, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N93526, registered to and operated by Delta State University, was substantially damaged while landing at Lake Providence, Louisiana. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo cross-country flight and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Cleveland, Mississippi, about 45 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, during the landing, he "did not flare properly," and the airplane contacted the runway "nose first." He was "unable to prevent porpoising of the airplane through a series of hard contacts with the runway." The airplane exited the runway and came to a stop in the grass. Upon inspection of the airplane, damage was found to the firewall. -