# Accident 20000310040979A: Cessna 172L, Beaufort, NC, March 10, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 10, 2000, 11:30 local time
- Place: Beaufort, NC
- Airport: Michael J Smith Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7204° N, 76.6504° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7204&lon=-76.6504&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3875Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3875Q) (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: 80 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA214) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000310040979A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ON MARCH 10, 2000, ABOUT 1130 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172L, N3875Q, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING AT THE MICHAEL J. SMITH FIELD AIRPORT, BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 36 MINUTES EARLIER. THE REGISTERED OWNER FAILED TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO THE NTSB OR THE FAA. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE NTSB ON JULY 12, 2000, DURING ROUTINE SURVEILLANCE ON JUNE 15, 2000, AT THE FACILITY WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING REPAIRED, HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN THE HANGAR AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE DAMAGE. THE PILOT DID NOT RETURN THE NTSB 6120.1/2 PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT FORM; THE REGISTERED OWNER COMPLETED INFORMATION ON THE FORM APPLICABLE TO THE AIRPLANE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO THE TALK WITH THE PILOT BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. ACCORDING TO A TRANSCRIPTION OF RECORDED STATEMENT PROVIDED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WHO INTERVIEWED THE PILOT, THE PILOT STATED THANO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE PREFLIGHT OR ENGINE RUN-UP BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT AFTER DEPARTURE THE FLIGHT REMAINED IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN WHERE HE PERFORMED TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. DURING THE FLARE OF THE ACCIDENT LANDING, THE FLIGHT WAS FAST AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE RESULTING IN A PROPELLER STRIKE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE INITIATED A GO-AROUND BUT "AT THE TIME I NEVER EXPERIENCED THE PORPOISING DURING THE FLARE. IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY THAT I DIDN'T EVEN FINISH IT." POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE FIREWALL AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED. (-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING A LANDING AT MRH, PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO EXCEED NORMAL APPROACH SPEED FOR FULL FLAPS. PILOT FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO TOUCH DOWN AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO LAND NOSE WHEEL FIRST. SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AFTER TOUCH DOWN AND THE PILOT "PORPOISED" THE AIRCRAFT SEVERAL TIMES IN HIS ATTEMPT TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT, CAUSING THE PROPELLER TO STRIKE THE GROUND AND DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL.

## 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 MIA00LA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA214), Mar 10, 2000: Cessna 172L (N3875Q), Beaufort, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to initiate a go-around after the airplane began to porpoise, resulting in a hard landing and structural damage to the airplane.

## Other reports on N3875Q (1)

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

- [Accident 20000710040989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000710040989A), Jul 10, 2000: Cessna 172L (N3875Q), Beaufort, NC, Substantial damage. (.4) The flight was a maintenance test flight following engine overhaul due to a propeller strike on March 10, 2000. No discrepancies were noted by the pilot…

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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