Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during go-around. The student pilot's improper level-off was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After touchdown, the airplane ballooned, touched down again, then ballooned again. The student pilot executed a go-around with insufficient airspeed, and lowered the nose when he heard the stall warning. The aircraft drifted to the left of the runway where it impacted the terrain nose down and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 9, 1996, at 2008 mountain daylight time, N4897P, a Cessna 152, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after landing at Salt Lake City, Utah. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. There was no report of the ELT actuating. The student stated that the airplane ballooned after touchdown, touched down again, and ballooned again. He attempted a go-around, lowering the nose when he heard a stall warning, and the aircraft drifted to the left side of the runway where it impacted nose down and nosed over about 100 feet to the left side of the runway, sustaining damage to the landing gear, fuselage and right wing. -