Cessna 152 accident near Scappoose, Oregon, September 29, 2011
On September 29, 2011 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6308Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Scappoose, Oregon (Scappoose Industrial Airpark 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 flare, which resulted in a bounced landing from which she was unable to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2011 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Scappoose, Oregon · Scappoose Industrial Airpark · 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
- N6308Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, while on final approach, the airplane was slow, and she added power while reducing the pitch. When the airplane reached the runway, it was higher than normal, so she reduced the power to idle. The airplane bounced upon touchdown. During the third bounce, the propeller impacted the runway. A postaccident examination revealed several bent longerons and deformation of the firewall. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,524 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 2011; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Portland OR at 6:44 pm
- Destination: SPB Scappoose OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from VUO, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on October 21, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1. Airplane (Provided by FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2. Aft of Firewall (Provided by FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 3. Bent Longeron Left Side (Provided by FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 4. Bent Longeron Right Side (Provided by FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 5. Firewall Deformation (Provided by FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6308Q 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.