# NTSB ATL00LA022: Cessna 172N, N8182E, Melbourne, FL, December 21, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1999, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, FL
- Coordinates: 28.080175, -80.599761 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0802&lon=-80.5998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48432
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48432/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA022

## Probable cause

The certified flight instructor's improper touchdown flare that resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

The flight instructor said they had completed four touch-and-go landings, and they were attempting a fifth landing when the airplane touched down hard on the runway. The flight instructor also reported that no mechanical problems with the airplane. The subsequent examination of the airframe disclosed that the engine firewall and surrounding structure had sustained substantial damage. The airplane examination also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.

## Factual narrative

On December 21, 1999, at 1130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N8182E, collided with the ground during an attempted landing at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Florida. The instructional flight was operated by Merritt Island Air Service under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The instructional flight departed Merritt Island, Florida, at 0900.

According to the flight instructor, they had completed four touch-and-go landings, and they were attempting a fifth landing when the airplane touched down hard on the runway. The flight instructor also reported no mechanical problems with the airplane.

The subsequent examination of the airframe disclosed that the engine firewall and surrounding structure had sustained substantial damage. The airplane examination also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8182E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8182E), registered now, S/N 17272148, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272148
- Airframe hours: 2227
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-HZAD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Merritt Island Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 17, 1999, 6 hours before
- Departed: COI, MERRITT ISLAND, FL
- Airport: runway 9R

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 490 total, 29 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 1 nm away

## 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 19991221042399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991221042399A), Dec 21, 1999: Cessna 172N, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. (-23)During touch and go practice the student flared the a/c too high at which point the instructor took the controls and attempted to lower the nose. The a/c…

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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