Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot remained in the traffic pattern for his first solo flight and completed one uneventful touch-and-go landing. On the second landing approach, the airplane floated during the landing flare. The student pushed the control yoke forward and the nose gear of the airplane struck the ground. The airplane bounced, entered a porpoise, and the nose gear collapsed. During the landing sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA172 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 19, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington
- Nearest airport
- Bowers Field (ELN)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N95429
- 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.