Cessna 152 accident near Okeechobee, Florida, June 6, 2008
On June 6, 2008 at about 11:05 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6173L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Okeechobee, Florida (Okeechobee 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
- June 6, 2008 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- Okeechobee, Florida · Okeechobee · 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
- N6173L · no longer on the register · serial 152-84369
- 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 of a Cessna 152 stated that his airspeed on final approach was 70 knots. He landed hard on the nose gear and the aircraft bounced. Upon further contact with the runway, the nose gear collapsed resulting in the propeller and right wing tip striking the runway. The aircraft came to rest in the grass approximately 500 feet north of the runway 5 threshold. The pilot also stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane, or any of its systems prior to the accident.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,088 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 16,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Regional Airline Academy Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KFPR Fort Pierce FL
- Destination: KOBE Okeechobee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:04 am from KOBE
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.