Event NYC96LA142

Factual narrative

On July 5, 1996, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6137H, a training flight, was substantially damaged at Greenwood Lake Airport, West Milford, New Jersey. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The departure point was Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot flew to Greenwood Lake Airport for the purpose of practicing landings. According to the pilot, "I overflew (the airport) at 2500 feet to study the windsock. The wind appeared to be coming from the west, this favored runway 24. I turned around, descended to 1800 feet, and entered a left downwind pattern for (the runway). On the final approach ... everything appeared normal. There was a slight wind from the 2:00 position, which I corrected using a little right aileron, and left rudder. I was using full flaps (30 degrees), and the power was at idle." "I started my flare about 1\3 of the way down the runway, my speed was about 60 knots. When I was about halfway through the flare (about 5 to 10 ft. above the runway), the right wing suddenly dropped. I think the right wing tip may have struck the ground. I added full throttle and left aileron. The plane continued to bank to the right, and climbed a few feet. The plane turned for approximately 180 degrees. I was able to level the wings at this point, but then the nose of the plane dropped, and struck the ground at about a 45 degree angle and slightly banked to the left. " The airplane came to rest about 50 feet from the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. The student pilot flew to Greenwood Lake Airport for the purpose of practicing landings. According to the student, 'I overflew (the airport) at 2500 feet to study the windsock. The wind appeared to be coming from the west, this favored runway 24. I turned around, descended to 1800 feet, and entered a left downwind pattern for (the runway). On the final approach ... everything appeared normal. There was a slight wind from the 2:00 position, which I corrected using a little right aileron, and left rudder. I was using full flaps (30 degrees), and the power was at idle. I started my flare about 1\3 of the way down the runway, my speed was about 60 knots. When I was about halfway through the flare (about 5 to 10 ft. above the runway), the right wing suddenly dropped. I think the right wing tip may have struck the ground. I added full throttle and left aileron. The plane continued to bank to the right, and climbed a few feet. The plane turned for approximately 180 degrees. I was able to level the wings at this point, but then the nose of the plane dropped, and struck the ground at about a 45 degree angle and slightly banked to the left.' The airplane came to rest about 50 feet from the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12