Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The aircraft bounced during landing and was 30 degrees to runway heading when it again touched down. The aircraft went off the left side of the runway, crossed over a taxiway, and came to rest in a grass area adjacent to the taxiway. As the aircraft crossed the taxiway the nose landing gear collapsed and the left wing contacted the ground.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 2, 1996, about 1055 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N5399P, registered to American East Airways, Inc., went off the runway and collapsed the nose landing gear when control was lost during landing at Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Lawrenceville, Georgia, the same day, about 1000. The pilot stated that upon landing with a right crosswind the aircraft touched down hard and bounced back into the air. The aircraft touched down again, 30 degrees to the left of runway heading. The aircraft went off the runway, crossed over a taxiway, and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the taxiway. The nose landing gear collapsed as the aircraft went over the taxiway and the left wing contacted the ground. -