# NTSB ATL04LA062: Cessna 172R, N26486, Atlanta, GA, December 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 2003, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.871944, -84.311668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-84.3117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. A factor is lack of total experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing ## Analysis During the student pilot's first unsupervised solo, he landed the airplane hard on runway 20L, and veered off the left side of runway surface into the grass. The nosegear collapsed. The student pilot reported that while descending fast on final approach, he landed the airplane "flat" and veered of the runway. Review of the pilot logbook showed that the student pilot had accumulated a total of 15 flight hours over a time period of a year. The student pilot prior to the accident reported no flight control or mechanical problems. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 2003, at 1245 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N26486, registered to T J Aviation Inc and operated by PDK Flight Academy collided with the ground during a hard landing at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Peachtree-Dekalb Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, on December 26, 2003 at 1230. According to the certified flight instructor, during the student pilot's first unsupervised solo, he landed the airplane on runway 20L, and veered off the left side of runway surface into the grass. The student pilot reported that he while descending fast on final approach he landed the airplane "flat" and bounced. He applied brakes and the airplane skidded off of the left side of the runway. The propeller struck the turf and the airplane came to rest between runway 20R and 20L. The student pilot stated that he failed to maintain control of the airplane when it bounced. Examination of the airplane revealed, the left and right wing tips were crushed. The nosewheel assembly was bent forward, and the firewall was buckled. Review of the pilot logbook showed that the student pilot had accumulated a total of 15 flight hours over a time period of a year. The student pilot prior to the accident reported no flight control or mechanical problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26486](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26486-2004-12-06), registration cancelled 2004-12-06, S/N 17280538, built 1998 (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 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Airframe hours: 3063 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360/L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: PDK Flight Academy - Registered owner: T J Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 4, 2003, 59 hours before - Departed: PDK, ATLANTA, GA - Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 20, 3,144 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: PDK ## 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 20031226034269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031226034269A), Dec 26, 2003: Cessna 172R, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 26, 2003 at approximately 1235 hrs local time during the first supervised solo flight, the student pilot was attempting to land the airplane.… ## Other investigations on N26486 (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 ATL04CA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA170), Aug 28, 2004: Cessna 172R (N26486), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The intentional interuption of the flight controls in flight that resulted in a uncontrolled descent and collision with a fence. 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.