Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's misjudging the landing flare altitude. A factor relating to this accident was the student pilot's lack of total experience.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was conducting a solo cross country flight. The student misjudged the landing flare altitude and landed in a nose and left wing down attitude. The nose wheel folded and the airplane nosed over onto its back.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 28, 1993, at about 1500 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6273Q, nosed over after the pilot lost control of the airplane during the landing phase. The loss of control was precipitated by a gust of wind. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules solo cross-country solo instructional flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Ahart Aviation, Incorporated, sustained substantial damage. The noncertificated student pilot, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Livermore Municipal Airport, Livermore, California at about 1346 hours. The student pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that during the landing he encountered a "sudden increase of wind from the right." The airplane touched down simultaneously on the left main and nose wheels. The nose struct folded and the airplane "flipped over." -