# Accident 20080520836109A: Cessna 172N, Palo Alto, CA, May 20, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2008, 10:29 local time
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Airport: Palo Alto Airport Of Santa Clara
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4567° N, 122.1089° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4567&lon=-122.1089&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6521J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6521J-2012-08-22) (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 O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08CA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080520836109A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 AM MAY 20, 2008, N621J, A CESSNA 172N AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING PATTERN WORK AT THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (PAO), PALO ALTO CALIFORNIA.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF THE AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, STATED THAT WHILE EXECUTING HIS FIRST LANDING HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT STARTED TO PORPOISE ON LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SUSTAINING DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, NOSE GEAR, AND ENGINE FIRE WALL.  THE PIC WAS NOT INJURED, AND WAS THE ONLY PERSON ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT.  THE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL.

## 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 LAX08CA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA149), May 20, 2008: Cessna 172N (N6521J), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Other reports on N6521J (1)

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

- [Accident 19910714027269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910714027269A), Jul 14, 1991: Cessna 172N (N6521J), Mariposa, CA, Substantial damage. Overran short sod strip on landing roll and went over an embankment.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
