# NTSB ATL06CA068: Cessna 172S, N21527, Gainsville, GA, April 16, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 16, 2006, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Gainsville, GA - Coordinates: 34.272777, -83.829719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2728&lon=-83.8297&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 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 63535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare which 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 - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot was performing his first solo flight and had completed three takeoffs, landings, and full stops on runway 29. After departing on the fourth takeoff the student pilot noticed clouds near the west, and elected to make his fourth landing final. The student pilot flew a normal left hand traffic pattern for runway 29 and upon turning final noted that " all seemed normal, and maybe a little high in ground effect." The airplane "hit" hard on the runway and then bounced two more times before settling on the ground. The student pilot noticed that the flight controls "did not seem to work right, and the airplane did not sound right". The student stated that he made the " classic mistake of stalling the airplane on landing". The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2006, at 0830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N21527, registered to K & L Equipment Leasing LLC and operated by Lanier Flight Center as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with the runway during landing at the Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport, Gainesville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport, Gainesville, Georgia, on April 16, 2006 at 0815. The student pilot was performing his first solo flight and had completed three takeoffs, landings, and full stops on runway 29. After departing on the fourth takeoff the student pilot noticed clouds near the west, and elected to make his fourth landing final. The student pilot flew a normal left hand traffic pattern for runway 29 and upon turning final noted that " all seemed normal, and maybe a little high in ground effect." The airplane "hit" hard on the runway and then bounced two more times before settling on the ground. The student pilot noticed that the flight controls "did not seem to work right, and the airplane did not sound right". The student stated that he made the " classic mistake of stalling the airplane on landing". The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21527](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21527-2020-05-01), registration cancelled 2020-05-01, S/N 172S9449, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S - Airframe hours: 1080 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wheelers R Flying, doing business as Lanier Flight Center - Registered owner: K & L Equipment Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2006 - Departed: KGVL, Gainsville, GA - Destination: KGVL, Gainsville, GA - Airport: KGVL, Gainesville/Lee Gilmer Memoria, runway 29, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 29 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KGVL ## 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 20060416030999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060416030999A), Apr 16, 2006: Cessna 172S, Gainesville, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) This accident occurred on April 16, 2006. No record at the southern region communication center or the atlanta FSDO exist indicating the FAA was notified… 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.