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Atlas / NTSB / LAX94LA291

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX94LA291

1994-07-12 LIVERMORE, California, United States Airport · LVK None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N5351L

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 152

Year of manufacture

1980 · 14 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19800228

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A6C586

Registrant of record

HILLSBORO AERO ACADEMY LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the student's misjudged landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery.

Factual narrative

On July 12, 1994, at 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5351L, operated by Ahart Aviation, Inc., was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Livermore Municipal Airport, Livermore, California. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Livermore Airport at 1550. The student pilot's flight instructor observed the accident. In summary, he reported that after the student had successfully performed five landings, he endorsed her student certificate for solo. He then proceeded into the control tower to observe the flight. The student's first two landings were uneventful. During the third landing, the student flared high and the airplane bounced and porpoised on the runway. The airplane's firewall was examined and was found buckled. THE STUDENT PILOT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HE ENDORSED THE STUDENT FOR SOLO FLYING. HE THEN PROCEEDED INTO THE CONTROL TOWER TO WATCH THE FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. THE STUDENT TOOK OFF AND LANDED TWO TIMES WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON THE THIRD LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WAS FLARED TOO HIGH. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND PORPOISED ON THE RUNWAY BUCKLING THE AIRPLANE'S FIREWALL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1994_LAX94LA291.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.