Probable cause
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was performing his first attempted landing on his second solo flight. He reported that, after touchdown, "the airplane bounced an unknown amount of times" until the propeller struck the runway and the nosegear collapsed. The student pilot stated that "as a result of my lack of experience I was unable to recognize an immediate go-around situation." The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing spars and firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10CA263 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 25, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Merced, California
- Nearest airport
- Castle -Merced (KMER)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N69254
- 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.