Primary finding
Probable cause
the solo student pilot misjudged the landing flare resulting in a hard landing. A factor in the accident was low airspeed.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot let his airspeed get too low and he flared too high on the landing. The airplane touched down hard and bounced. On the second bounce the nose gear collapsed and the pilot lost direction control. The airplane slid off the left side of the runway and came to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 28, 1996, at 1815 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68459, collapsed the nose gear during landing on runway 14 at the Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California. The airplane was being operated by Aero Venture, Petaluma, California, as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated in Petaluma about 1700 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The winds were from 230 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot indicated on his accident report that he let his airspeed get "too low" and "flared too high." The airplane landed hard and bounced. On the second touchdown the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the left side of the runway and came to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. -