Cessna 152 accident near Crystal River, Florida, March 5, 2009
On March 5, 2009 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94563, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Crystal River, Florida (Crystal River Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2009 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal River, Florida · Crystal River Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94563 · no longer on the register · serial 15285726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was executing the second leg of her first solo cross-country instructional flight. The approach to the runway was normal; however, the airplane bounced during landing and before the pilot was able to react the airplane bounced again. The airplane then slid off the runway and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing and firewall. The pilot lost consciousness during the accident and her memory of the event was limited. She could not recall whether the airplane experienced any preimpact failures or malfunctions during landing. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any airworthiness issues with either the airframe or engine that would have affected the handling characteristics or performance of the airplane. Winds about the time of the accident were 7 knots with no gusts.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,474 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL
- Destination: CGC Crystal River FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09, 4,555 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BKV, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.