N68281

On August 17, 2003, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68281, was substantially damaged during a collision with the ground following a loss of control during a recovery from a hard landing on runway 16 (4,200 ' X 75') at the Ravalli Country Airport, Hamilton, Montana. The airplane was registered to and operated by North Star Aviation of Hamilton, Montana. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed the Ravalli Country Airport, at 1300.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB for 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he was conducting a short field "spot landing" with 30 degrees of flaps, and an approach speed of 65 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot stated that the airspeed was a little faster than he would normally use and the aircraft touched down on the main landing gear and bounced. The pilot further reported that on the second contact with the runway he applied back pressure on the yoke and "it bounced very high - about 12 feet high." The pilot also related that prior to the third bounce, he again applied back pressure on the control yoke and it bounced high again. The pilot continued, "At this point the airplane was going too slow, and I felt that adding power would only make the problem worse." The pilot said that before the airplane contacted the runway for the fourth time, its course was approximately 5 degrees to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane then contacted the runway with all three landing gear, causing the nose gear to buckle immediately, impacting the firewall. The aircraft subsequently came to rest on its nose and left wing, with the tail projecting 45 degrees into the air. The pilot reported that no power was added for recovery in spite of his prior instruction and practice in hard landing recovery.

An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported substantial damage to the left wing and the firewall.