NTSB Factual Report

On May 10, 2001, about 0900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N135GB, was substantially damaged during landing at Easton/Newnam Field (ESN), Easton, Maryland. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he departed Martin State Airport (MTN), Baltimore, Maryland, about 0830, destined for Easton. As he approached Easton, ATIS reported the winds were from 330 degrees at 8 knots, and runway 15/33 was closed due to construction. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 22, and "kept in extra airspeed" to compensate for the crosswind. The pilot noticed that he was "coming down a little faster than normal" and as he crossed the runway threshold, the airplane was blown to the left of centerline. The pilot reported that he "flared early" in an attempt to land the airplane "before it drifted off the runway." The airplane bounced twice, and during the second bounce it reached an altitude of 20 feet before coming back down and impacting the runway. The nose gear broke off, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway.

The pilot reported 400 hours of total flight experience, all of which were in make and model.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the landing gear nose wheel had collapsed, and substantial damage was observed to the firewall.

At 0855, the winds reported at an Air Force base 34 miles to the northeast, were from 320 degrees at 8 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper landing flare. A factor was the crosswind.