Cessna 152 accident near Norman, Oklahoma, August 3, 1998
On August 3, 1998 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N93116, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norman, Oklahoma (Max Westheimer Field). 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 delayed landing flare resulting in a hard landing and his improper recovery procedures for a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1998 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Norman, Oklahoma · Max Westheimer Field · 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
- N93116 · registry record · serial 15285405
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot lost control of the airplane following a hard landing after the airplane began to porpoise and the student pilot was unable to recover. The student pilot had been practicing touch and go landings. The flight instructor, who was supervising the solo flight from the ramp, observed the first touch and go to be 'ok.' During the second approach, the instructor noticed that the student flared 'improperly' and the student pilot recovered by executing a go around prior to touching down. On the third touch and go, he observed the student flare 'improperly' again. Upon touch down, the aircraft began to porpoise. During the porpoise, the propeller struck the ground and the nose landing gear collapsed.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1998; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OUN at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 33.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N93116 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.