# NTSB ATL04CA162: Cessna 172, N6555D, Chamblee, GA, July 11, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2004, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Chamblee, GA - Coordinates: 33.875556, -84.30194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8756&lon=-84.3019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA162 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing. A factor was a tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while approaching the destination , he listened to the current weather information, which reported the winds to be from 330 degrees at 11 knots. He stated that during the landing on runway 20L, he may have "flared too high", resulting in a high sink rate and the airplane bounced on the runway three times. He stated he was able to taxi the airplane to the ramp for assistance, and during the post-flight inspection of the airplane, he noticed the damage to the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right lower and left upper engine firewall were buckled and the right lower engine mount was separated from the firewall. The pilot and passenger floor panels were buckled and the right side of the fuselage, engine cowling, and bottom forward pilot compartment were buckled. The propeller was bent on both tips. Neither flight control yoke was able to travel forward, aft, left, or right. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2004, at 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6555D, registered to and operated by Aviation Atlanta, Inc., collided with the runway during an attempted landing on runway 20L at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Chamblee, Georgia. The solo instructional flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules (VFR). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed and activated. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Letourneau Field, Toccoa, Georgia, on July 11, 2004 at 1125. According to the pilot, the flight was a solo cross country flight originating at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) with intermediate stops in Andersen, South Carolina and Toccoa, Georgia. The pilot stated that upon returning to the PDK terminal area, he listened to the current weather information, which reported the winds to be from 330 degrees at 11 knots, and contacted the PDK control tower. He stated that over the runway surface, he may have "flared too high", resulting in a high sink rate and the airplane bounced on the runway three times. He stated he was able to taxi the airplane to the ramp for assistance, and during the post-flight inspection of the airplane, he noticed the damage to the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right lower and left upper engine firewall were buckled and the right lower engine mount was separated from the firewall. The pilot and passenger floor panels were buckled and the right side of the fuselage, engine cowling, and bottom forward pilot compartment were buckled. The propeller was bent on both tips. Neither flight control yoke was able to travel forward, aft, left, or right. The pilot further stated that it had been more than 4 months since he had practiced crosswind landings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6555D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6555D-2012-06-21), registration cancelled 2012-06-21, S/N 17272863, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - 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: 17272863 - Airframe hours: 12554 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aviation Atlanta - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2004, 66.1 hours before - Departed: KTOC, Toccoa, GA - Destination: KPDK, Chamblee, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PDK, DeKalb Peachtree Airport, runway 20L, 6,001 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 83 total, 83 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KPDK ## 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 20040711030519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040711030519A), Jul 11, 2004: Cessna 172N, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23)[privacy data omitted]was returning to pdk airport after completing his required solo long cross country trip. While making his approach into the airport,… ## Other investigations on N6555D (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 DFW08FA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08FA040), Nov 28, 2007: Cessna 172N (N6555D), Marlow, OK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident were the low altitude for recovery and… 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.