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Atlas / NTSB / IAD98LA008

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event IAD98LA008

1997-10-26 LINCOLN PARK, New Jersey, United States Airport · N07 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N4950A

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA A152

Engine

LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19791012

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A62504

Registrant of record

SHAFFER BARBARA J

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the pilot's improper flare during touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent encounter with terrain.

Factual narrative

On October 26, 1997, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N4950A, was substantially damaged when it touched down hard and nosed over at Lincoln Park Airport, Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The instructional flight originated at Lincoln Park, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 01, the airplane bounced three times. She said the third time was the hardest, and the nosewheel was uncontrollable. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck the ground, and nosed over. An FAA Inspector reported that this was the pilot's fourth solo flight. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident, and she had over 63 hours of total flight time in make and model. She also reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that during touchdown on runway 01, the airplane bounced three times. She said after the third bounce, the front wheel was uncontrollable, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck the ground, and nosed over. According to an FAA Inspector, this was the pilot's fourth solo flight. The pilot reported over 64 hours of total flight time, including 25 hours in make and model. She also reported that the winds were calm, and there was no mechanical malfunction. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1997_IAD98LA008.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.