# NTSB ATL02LA140: Cessna 172P, N54119, Merritt Island, FL, July 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2002, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Merritt Island, FL - Coordinates: 28.347221, -80.686943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3472&lon=-80.6869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55198 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55198/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55198 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery after a bounced landing and improper landing flare which resulted in the airplane colliding with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A student pilot practicing short field landings landed hard. The airplane bounced back into the air and the pilot did not add power to go around. The airplane then came back down hard on the nose wheel leaving damage to the firewall and cabin floor. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2002, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N54119, registered to a private individual and operated by the student pilot landed hard during a practice short field landing at the Merritt Island Airport, in Cocoa, Florida. The instructional flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Merritt Island, Florida, at 0900 on July 12, 2002. According to the student pilot, while practicing a short field landing, the airplane bounced hard on the runway. When the student pilot did not add power to recover from the first bounce, the airplane bounced hard on the runway again. The subsequent examination of the airplane revealed damage to the engine firewall and the cabin floor. The landing gear system did not collapse. The student pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54119](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54119-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 17274883, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - 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: 17274883 - Airframe hours: 11570 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2002, 32.6 hours before - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, KY - Destination: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Airport: KCOI, Merritt Island, runway 110, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 23 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MIA, 154 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 20020712019839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020712019839A), Jul 12, 2002: Cessna 172P, Cocoa, FL, No damage. (-23) On July 12, 2002 at approximately 0930 EDT a Cessna CE-172-9 aircraft made a damaging hard landing while operating on a title 49, 14 CFR part 91 solo… ## Other investigations on N54119 (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 MIA88IA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88IA099), Feb 4, 1988: Cessna 172P (N54119), Orlando, FL, incident, no damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55198. 705 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.