# NTSB ANC04LA029: Cessna 172P, N612CB, Lutz, FL, February 21, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 2004, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Lutz, FL
- Coordinates: 28.221389, -82.374443
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2214&lon=-82.3744&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA, Tampa FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA029

## Probable cause

The student pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The student pilot reported he was practicing landings.  During the landing flare on the accident landing, the airplane ballooned and then landed hard, collapsing the nose landing gear and incurring structural damage to the fuselage firewall bulkhead.  The student pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On February 21, 2004, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N612CB, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing and nose landing gear collapse at the North Tampa Aero Park, Lutz, Florida.  The solo student pilot was not injured.  The Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was operated by Helicopter Structural and Maintenance, Inc., Lutz, in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was filed for the local flight.

During a telephone conversation with an NTSB investigator on March 15, the student pilot related he was landing on runway 32 with a slight quartering headwind.  He said during the landing flare the airplane ballooned and landed hard, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the firewall.  The student pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N612CB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275186
- Airframe hours: 4239
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Helicopter Structural Maint. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 23, 2004, 16 hours before
- Departed: Lutz, FL
- Destination: X39
- Airport: X39, Tampa North Aero Park, runway 32, 3,541 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20040221013709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040221013709A), Feb 21, 2004: Cessna 172P, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On February 21, 2004, at 1330 EST, a Cessna 172, N612CB, registered to helicopter structure and maintenance, collided with the ground at Tampa north aero…

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.

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