# Accident 19990518040539A: Cessna 172R, Imperial, CA, May 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 1999, 11:45 local time
- Place: Imperial, CA
- Airport: Imperial County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8597° N, 115.6496° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8597&lon=-115.6496&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9897F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9897F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Reported engine: LYC IO360L2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 43 total, 23 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990518040539A

## Narrative

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

(.23) STUDENT PILOT ON THE THIRD LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IPL ON 5/18/99, 1145 PST. STUDENT PILOT FLARED TOO SOON, ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT, A/C PORPOISED AND STRUCK GROUND HARD. DAMAGE TO NOSE GEAR, PROPELLOR, COWLING, AND FIREWALL. NO INJURIES TO SOLE OCCUPANT.  FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THERMAL, CA ABOUT 1125 PST.                                     (.4)INBOUND TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REQUESTED A LANDING ADVISORY FROM THE CTAF.  THEY ADVISED RUNWAY 14 WAS IN USE.  AS THE PILOT NEARED THE AIRPORT, ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ASKED FOR ADVISORIES.  THAT AIRCRAFT WAS ADVISED THAT RUNWAY 32 WAS IN USE AND LANDED ON IT.  THE PILOT TRIED TO CONTACT THE CTAF TO VERIFY RUNWAY 32 WAS NOW IN USE, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.  SHE ENTERED RIGHT TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 32 AND NOTED THE WINDSOCK INDICATED THERE WAS NO WIND.  SHE OVERSHOT THE TURN TO FINAL BUT CORRECTED TO LINE UP ON THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.  SHE FLARED TOO HIGH AND TRIED TO CORRECT; HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO PORPOISE.  THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND, BUCKLING THE COWLING AND FIREWALL.  THE PILOT TAXIED CLEAR OF THE RUNWAY AND SHUT DOWN.

## 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 LAX99LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA185), May 18, 1999: Cessna 172R (N9897F), Imperial, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which led to an inadvertent porpoise condition.

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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