Probable cause
An improper flare during landing. Contributing to the accident was a porpoise induced oscillation.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was on his second solo flight when the airplane bounced during a hard landing on runway 15. The airplane bounced three times with each bounce harder than the previous bounce. After the third bounce the airplane landed nose gear first, the propeller struck the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. There was substantial damage to the forward firewall. The instructor pilot witnessed the accident and reported the winds as light and variable.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DFW08CA162 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 29, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Castroville, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Castroville Muni (T89)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna CE-152
- N-number
- N4789P
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.