Event FTW02LA149

Factual narrative

On May 9, 2002, at 1200 central daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N48819, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the West Houston Airport, Houston, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by MVP Aviation Inc., of Houston, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo flight. The local flight originated from the Weiser Airpark Airport, Houston, Texas, at 1100. According to the flight instructor and student pilot, the flight departed and flew to the West Houston Airport. The student pilot demonstrated four touch-and-go landings on runway 15, and one approach that was followed by a go-around. The flight instructor reported that the wind was "straight down the runway at 7 knots." The instructor then exited the airplane so that the student pilot could solo the airplane in the traffic pattern. The instructor stated that this was the student's fifth solo flight. The student pilot performed the first touch-and-go landing without incident. During the second approach, while on short final, the student noted that her airspeed was "around 80 knots, which was too high." She attempted to slow the airplane; however, due to "gusty winds on short final, [she] panicked." The student reported that the airplane was "near the runway" when it encountered a downdraft, which "caused [it] to slam onto the runway" with both main landing gear. The airplane bounced two times, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. At 1153, the weather observation facility at the William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, (located 23 miles southeast of the accident site) reported the wind from 190 degrees at 15 knots. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, the engine firewall was wrinkled and the vertical stabilizer and rudder were structurally damaged. With a flight instructor on board, the student pilot demonstrated four touch-and-go landings on runway 15, and one approach that was followed by a go-around. The flight instructor reported that the wind was "straight down the runway at 7 knots." The instructor exited the airplane so that the student pilot could solo the airplane in the traffic pattern. This was the student's fifth solo flight. The student pilot performed the first touch-and-go landing without incident. During the second approach, while on short final, she noted that her airspeed was "around 80 knots, which was too high." She attempted to slow the airplane; however, due to "gusty winds on short final, [she] panicked." The student reported that the airplane was "near the runway" when the airplane encountered a downdraft, which "caused [it] to slam onto the runway" with both main landing gear. The airplane bounced two times, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. A weather observation facility 23 miles southeast of the accident site reported the wind from 190 degrees at 15 knots near the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12