# NTSB ANC08CA054: Cessna 172, N64218, Tyndall AFB, FL, April 15, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 15, 2008, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Tyndall AFB, FL
- Coordinates: 30.069999, -85.576385
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0700&lon=-85.5764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA054

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged flare and subsequent hard landing, and her inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country solo flight. During the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airspeed dissipated, and the airplane touched down again and bounced several times. The nose wheel landing gear strut and wheel separated from the fuselage, and the propeller struck the runway.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country solo flight. During the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airspeed dissipated, and the airplane touched down again and bounced several times. The nose wheel landing gear strut and wheel separated from the fuselage, and the propeller struck the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64218](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64218-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 17275536, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275536
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tyndall AFB Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KTLH, Tallahassee, FL
- Destination: KPAM, Tyndall AFB, FL
- Flight plan: Military VFR
- Airport: KPAM, Tyndall AFB, runway 31

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 38 total, 38 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Observed at: KPAM

## 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 20080415836289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080415836289A), Apr 15, 2008: Cessna 172P, Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 15, 2008, a student pilot departed Tyndall Afb in a Cessna 172, N64218, on a training flight. Aircraft was returning from pattern work at ktlh…

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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