# Accident 20170503021549A: Cessna C172, Molokai, HI, May 3, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2017, 07:00 local time
- Place: Molokai, HI
- Airport: Molokai
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 21.1528° N, 157.0964° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.1528&lon=-157.0964&mi=10
- Aircraft: N173LL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N173LL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (registry code 41595, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d2j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C172
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA268) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170503021549A

## Narrative

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

MOLOKAI, HI (MKK): N173LL, C172, STUDENT SOLO X-C, NO INJS; RPTD ELEVATOR ISSUE; LNDD ON NOSE; BENT FIRE WALL/SUB DMG; NO ATC SVCS; TXT SENT; NOTFD NTSB/SIMPSON; HNL FSDO/KANAYAMA POB: 1, INJURIES: NONE, DAMAGE: SUB DMG. 5/3 1755Z.

HERE?S THE EMAILED STATEMENT FROM COREY WOLLARD (STUDENT PILOT) SENT TO ME ASI (RDP) 05/09/2017.  I WAS DESCENDING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 5 BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 10:50 A.M.-11:00 A.M. (UNCERTAIN OF EXACT TIME).  I TOUCHED DOWN AND BOUNCED THE LANDING.  I ATTEMPTED TO DO A GO-AROUND, CARB HEAT IN AND FULL THROTTLE, BUT MISTAKENLY PUT MY FLAPS UP ALL AT ONCE. AT THIS POINT, THE PLANE LANDED BACK ON THE RUNWAY.  THE LANDING WAS HARD, BUT DID NOT BOUNCE THE SECOND TIME.  I PULLED THE THROTTLE BACK TO IDLE AND REMAINED ON THE RUNWAY TO STABILIZE MYSELF.  I THEN PROCEEDED TO PUSH THROTTLE BACK IN TO INITIATE TAKE OFF.  DURING MY PATTERN, I NOTICED THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS WERE NOT WORKING OPTIMALLY.  IT FELT LIKE WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR POWER CONTROL STEERING IN YOUR CAR.  I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE YOKE FORWARD AND PULL BACK ON IT ONLY A LITTLE BIT.  ALSO, I HAD TO APPLY A LOT OF FORCE TO DO SO.  I TOLD MOLOKAI TOWER THAT I WAS HAVING FLIGHT CONTROL ISSUES.  MOLOKAI TOWER ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY, I CONFIRMED AND CHANGED MY SQUAWK TO 7700.  A CARAVAN WAS ABOUT 2 MILES OUT TO THE EAST FROM LANDING ON RUNWAY 5.  MOLOKAI TOWER CLEARED ME FOR NUMBER 2 ON LANDING FOLLOWING THE CARAVAN.  I THEN TOLD MOLOKAI TOWER THAT I NEEDED TO LAND FIRST.  I LANDED THE PLANE ONLY BEING ABLE TO USE MINIMAL MUSCLED ELEVATOR CONTROLS.  UPON INITIAL INSPECTION ON THE EXTERNAL SURFACES, THERE APPEARED TO BE NO DAMAGE EXCEPT A STIFF ELEVATOR.

## 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 GAA17CA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA268), May 3, 2017: Cessna 172 (N173LL), Kaunakakai, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s incorrect flap configuration during the go-around, which resulted in a hard, forced landing.

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.