N869NE

On August 18, 1999, at 0823 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N869NE, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a touch-and-go landing, on runway 14L (4,060 feet by 75 feet, dry/concrete), at Eppley Airfield, Omaha, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The local flight had originated about 0815.

According to the pilot's logbook, the accident flight was the pilot's fourth solo flight. In a written statement, the pilot said he "... landed normally." The pilot said that after touching down, he "... pulled the yoke back to keep the nose wheel off the runway." The pilot said that the aircraft became airborne again and "...then came down hard on the nosewheel." The aircraft nose gear collapsed and the aircraft exited the runway.

Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot.