# Accident 20170323006209A: Cessna 172H, Timberlake, NC, March 23, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 2017, 16:00 local time
- Place: Timberlake, NC
- Airport: Person County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.2864° N, 78.9819° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2864&lon=-78.9819&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3947R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3947R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172H (registry code 2072424, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 129 total, 129 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA206) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170323006209A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVOLVING A CESSNA 172H AT PERSON COUNTY AIRPORT KTDF, NORTH CAROLINA AT 1600 LOCAL ON THURSDAY MARCH 23 2017.

STUDENT PILOT WENT OUT FOR A SOLO FLIGHT IN THE PATTERN TO PRACTICE LANDINGS. PILOT LISTENED TO THE AWOS AND WINDS WERE REPORTING FROM 100 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. HE DEPARTED AND FLEW THE PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 6.  DURING THE FLARE HE STATED THAT HE FELT THE WIND PUSH FROM BEHIND AND HE CAME DOWN ON THE RUNWAY HARD CAUSING THE PROPELLER TO HIT THE GROUND. DURING HIS TAXI TO THE RAMP HE LISTENED TO THE AWOS AGAIN AND THE WINDS WERE REPORTING FROMM 210 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS.

INSPECTOR ARRIVED AT THE SCENE ON FRIDAY MARCH 24 AT 1000. N3947R WAS PARKED ON THE RAMP AND WAS ABLE TO BE INSPECTED. DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON PROPELLER TIPS, THE FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED, AND THE FUSELAGE SKIN ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL WAS DAMAGED ON BOTH SIDES.

STUDENT PILOT WAS GIVEN COUNSELING ON WEATHER/WIND CONSIDERATIONS FOR A GO/NO GO DECISION, POSITIVE AIRCRAFT CONTROL, GO AROUND DECISION MAKING, AND LANDING WITH A TAILWIND.

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION PTRS NUMBER: 201705540

COUNSELING PTRS NUMBER: 201705542

## 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 GAA17CA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA206), Mar 23, 2017: Cessna 172 (N3947R), Timberlake, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare with a tailwind, which resulted in a propeller strike.

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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