ATL96LA124

Factual narrative

On August 24, 1996, at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N4982A, collided with the runway during landing at Waycross-Ware County Airport, Waycross, Georgia. The student pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by American Flight Academy under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, solo flight. The flight originated from Waycross-Ware County Airport approximately 1030. According to the operator's chief flight instructor, the student flared too high on landing, and the airplane bounced upon touchdown. As the airplane bounced, the student added engine power and pushed the nose over. The airplane touched down on the nose gear first. The nose tire was blown out, and the nose landing gear folded backward. As the airplane nosed up, the propeller struck the ground. The right wingtip also contacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest on the main landing gear. During landing, the student pilot flared prematurely. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and became airborne. The student added power and pushed the nose over. The airplane then landed on the nose gear which collapsed. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12