# Accident 19971224039759A: Cessna 172P, Kenmore, WA, December 24, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 24, 1997, 15:30 local time
- Place: Kenmore, WA
- Airport: Air Harbor
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.7492° N, 122.2401° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7492&lon=-122.2401&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9566L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9566L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2J
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 380 total, 17 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA026) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971224039759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT BRUSHED WATER WITH THE LEFT WING WHEN LANDING, OTHER CIRCUM ARE UNKNOWN, KENMORE, WA. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO EXECUTING AN APPROACH FOR LANDING SHE LOOKED AT THE WATER SURFACE AND SAW MILD RIPPLES AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT GLASSY WATER. SHE SET UP A FLATTER APPROACH THAN NORMAL. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE WATER SURFACE, THE HAZE GREW THICKER. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE WONDERED IF SHE SHOULD HAVE SET UP FOR A GLASSY WATER LANDING, WHEN THE AIRPLANE HIT THE WATER SURFACE. THE AIRCRAFT CAREENED TO THE RIGHT, THEN CARTWHEELED TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE WATER SURFACE, AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST RIGHT-SIDE UP. THE PILOT HAD JUST TAKEN THE SINGLE-ENGINE SEA CHECKRIDE ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND THIS WAS HER FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. (-23) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A NORMAL APPROACH FOR LANDING WAS MAKE TO GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE A/C TOUCHED DOWN BEFORE SHE EXPECTED AND THE A/C WATER LOOPED.  THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE WATER SURFACE AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. (LEFT WING, AILERON, FLAP AND LEFT SIDE MID-FUSELAGE).

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA026), Dec 24, 1997: Cessna 172P (N9566L), Kenmore, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequately planned approach and failure to maintain directional control. The pilot's lack of total experience in kind of aircraft and haze were factors.

## Other reports on N9566L (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20030614013289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030614013289A), Jun 14, 2003: Cessna 172P (N9566L), Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) The accident aircraft was being operated for instructional purposes, and the PIC instructor seated in the right seat was administering training to a…
- [Incident 19900506026549I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900506026549I), May 6, 1990: Cessna 172 (N9566L), Renton, WA, Minor damage. Pilot struck a parked aircraft while taxiing from the seaplane ramp.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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