Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while practicing night landings he misjudged the timing of the touchdown flare, resulting in the airplane touching down hard in a nose low attitude. Both lower engine mounts were broken and the top of the aft fuselage was buckled. The pilot reported that no anomalies existed with the airplane prior to the flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for SEA08CA125 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 6, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Redding, California
- Nearest airport
- Redding Municipal Airport (RDD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N68353
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.