# Accident 19980906031229A: Cessna 172L, Bakersfield, CA, September 6, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 1998, 10:45 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Airport: Bakersfield Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3806° N, 119.0201° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3806&lon=-119.0201&mi=10
- Aircraft: N19770, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19770-2004-07-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172L (registry code 2072432, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 402 total, 275 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA294) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906031229A

## Narrative

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

PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE ALTITUDE ADN STALLED THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, BUT MADE A HARD DAMAGING ONE PROPELLER BLADE AND THE FIREWALL. THERE WERE NO WEATHER CAUSAL FACTORS. (.19)ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1998, AT 1725 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172L, N19770, MADE A HARD LANDING AT THE BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PRIVAT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  IN AN INTERVIEW WITH A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR FROM THE FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FLARED TO EARLY ON LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT NOTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1998, AT 1045 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172L, N19770, MADE A HARD LANDING ON RUNWAY 16 AT THE BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, MUNICIPAL AIRPARK. THE AIRCRAFT, OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91,      SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM BAKERSFIELD AIRPORT AT 1000 ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. HE STATED THAT ON THE FIRST ATTEMPTED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO HIGH AND HE HAD TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, HE FLARED TOO HIGH AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND PORPOISED DOWN THE RUNWAY STRIKING THE PROPELLER BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED WITHT HE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE BY THE PILOT.

## 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 LAX98LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA294), Sep 6, 1998: Cessna 172L (N19770), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare that led to an improper bounced landing recovery and subsequent uncontrolled porpoise.

## Other reports on N19770 (2)

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

- [Accident 20030307002939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030307002939A), Mar 7, 2003: Cessna 172L (N19770), Rosamond, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (.19) On March 7, 2003, at 1500 pacific standard time, a Cessna 172L, N19770, collided with terrain near Rosamond, California. The airplane was operated by…
- [Accident 19770528012839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770528012839A), May 28, 1977: Cessna 172L (N19770), Chinle, AZ, Substantial damage. Gusts to 25K.

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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