# NTSB ATL04LA031: Cessna 172R, N496AC, New Bern, NC, October 30, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 2003, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: New Bern, NC - Coordinates: 35.068611, -77.034721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0686&lon=-77.0347&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58269 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58269/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA031 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare resulting 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 (cause) - terrain condition - runway - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis According to the student pilot, the solo cross-country flight was uneventful to the destination airport. The student pilot stated she entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 13. The student pilot also stated she began the "landing flare too high". The airplane collided with the runway, bounced, collided with the runway again in a nose down attitude, and began to porpoise down the runway. The student pilot did not report experiencing a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight or approach to land. Examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose wheel assembly had collapsed and there was structural damage at the nose wheel attach point. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2003, at 1435 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N496AC, registered to Air Care Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, nose gear collapsed during an attempted landing on runway 13 at Craven County Airport, New Bern, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated on October 30, 2003, from Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport, Rocky Mount, North Carolina at 1400. According to the student pilot, the solo cross-country flight was uneventful to the destination airport. The student pilot stated she entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 13. The student pilot also stated she began the "landing flare too high". The airplane collided with the runway, bounced, collided with the runway again in a nose down attitude, and began to "porpoise" down the runway. The student pilot did not report experiencing a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight or approach to land. Examination of the airplane disclosed that the nose wheel assembly had collapsed and there was structural damage at the nose wheel attach point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N496AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N496AC-2010-06-22), registration cancelled 2010-06-22, S/N 17281006, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281006 - Airframe hours: 1389 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Care Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2003, 59 hours before - Departed: RWI, Rocky Mount, NC - Destination: EWN, New Bern, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EWN, Craven County Airport, runway 13, 4,000 × 150 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: 52 total, 8 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: EWN ## 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 20031030027339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031030027339A), Oct 30, 2003: Cessna 172R, New Bern, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was conducting a cross country flight from rocky mount (rwi) to New Bern (ewn). During the landing phase of flight at ewn, student pilot… ## Other investigations on N496AC (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 ATL05CA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA088), May 27, 2005: Cessna 172 (N496AC), Raleigh, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees 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.