# Accident 20001130026429A: Cessna 172N, Tucson, AZ, November 30, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 30, 2000, 09:30 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Avra Valley Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4494° N, 111.2902° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4494&lon=-111.2902&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8173E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8173E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 26 total, 17 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001130026429A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON AN EARLY MORNING SOLO FLIGHT IN THE PATTERN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE AIRPLANE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCED MOMENTARY SUN GLARE, FLARED TOO HIGH AND RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING, BOUNCED AND RECONTACTED THE RUNWAY ON THE NOSE GEAR DAMAGING THE PROP, FIRE WALL AND NOSE GEAR. (.4) ON NOVEMBER 30, 2000, AT 0930 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172N, N8173E, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A HARD LANDING AT THE MARANA AIRPORT, MARANA, ARIZONA. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY TUCSON AEROSERVICE CENTER, INC., AND RENTED BY A STUDENT PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, WHICH DEPARTED FROM THE MARANA AIRPORT AT 0915. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THE FINAL APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL HE BEGAN THE FLARE, WHEN THE MORNING SUN MOMENTARILY RESTRICTED HIS VISION. HIS VISION CLEARED BUT HE WAS SURPRISED BY EARLY CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT ADDING POWER. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTR                                                                        OL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCE AND TAXIED OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER CLEARING THE RUNWAY THE PILOT SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED THAT THE FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED. THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FIXED-BASE OPERATOR (FBO) STATED THE WINDS WERE LIGHT, NO MORE THAN 3-4 KNOTS.

## 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 LAX01LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA048), Nov 30, 2000: Cessna 172N (N8173E), Marana, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the morning sun, which momentarily restricted the pilot's vision.

## Other reports on N8173E (1)

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

- [Incident 19820913054589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820913054589I), Sep 13, 1982: Cessna 172N (N8173E), Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Hand propped engine to charge weak battery. Airplane jumped chocks. Struck a fence, truck and motorcycle.

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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