# NTSB ATL06CA116: Cessna 172M, N20965, Augusta, GA, August 3, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 3, 2006, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Augusta, GA
- Coordinates: 33.36972, -81.964447
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3697&lon=-81.9644&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: College Park FSDO-11
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64261/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA116

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare on landing with excessive altitude 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
  - altitude - excessive, pilot in command
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot was observed to start his landing flare at 50 feet above the runway. The airplane made a hard landing. The student pilot stopped the airplane and completed an engine shutdown. The airplane was towed to the parking ramp. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine firewall and cockpit floor was buckled.

## Factual narrative

On August 3, 2006, at  0830 eastern daylight time a Cessna 172M, N20965, registered to a private owner, operated by Mc Air Aviation Services Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, landed hard on runway 17 at  Augusta Regional-Bush Field, Augusta, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Augusta, Georgia, on August 3, 2006, at 0825.

A witness stated he observed the pilot depart from runway 17 and remained in left closed traffic. The airplane was observed to start a landing flare at 50 feet. The airplane made a hard landing. The student pilot stopped the airplane and completed an engine shutdown. The airplane was towed to the parking ramp. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine firewall and cockpit floor was buckled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20965](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20965), registered now, S/N 17263883, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17263883
- Airframe hours: 8800
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mc Air Aviation Services Inc.
- Registered owner: James P. McMakin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2006, 62 hours before
- Departed: KAGS, Augusta, GA
- Destination: KAGS
- Airport: KAGS, Augusta Regional-Bush Field, runway 17, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 28 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KAGS

## 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 20060803016999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060803016999A), Aug 3, 2006: Cessna 172M, Augusta, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot approached to land and found himself a little high. He elected to continue the approach and stated that he flared too high. In his…

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.

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