# NTSB ATL07CA132: Cessna C172N, N733BS, Manassas, VA, August 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2007, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Manassas, VA - Coordinates: 38.719444, -77.509162 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7194&lon=-77.5092&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 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Washington/Dulles FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66790/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA132 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to correct for a pilot-induced oscillation/porpoise, during flare/touchdown, 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/touchdown - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the student pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was training under the United Stated Marine Corps Introductory Flight Screening Program, prior to attending the Naval Flight School at Pensacola, Florida. The student pilot reported to the CFI that he was making his third solo flight, in the traffic pattern and that the airplane bounced several times while he was attempting to land and that he had landed hard on the nose wheel, busting the tire. Inspection of the airplane revealed the tire had burst, the nose gear wheel was broken and the propeller had struck the runway. A Chief CFI at another flight school on the field advised that he had observed the incident. He stated that the student porpoised several times, making no apparent attempt to recover. The student pilot left the airport and returned to his barracks at Quantico. He met with the administrators of the Introductory Flight Screening program and advised them that he had been nervous during all flights and had decided flying was not for him. He dropped himself from the program. On October 2, 2007, further inspection of the airplane revealed that there was damage to the airplane's firewall. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was training under the United Stated Marine Corps Introductory Flight Screening Program, prior to attending the Naval Flight School at Pensacola, Florida. The student pilot reported to the CFI that he was making his third solo flight, in the traffic pattern and that the airplane bounced several times while he was attempting to land and that he had landed hard on the nose wheel, busting the tire. Inspection of the airplane revealed the tire had burst, the nose gear wheel was broken and the propeller had struck the runway. A Chief CFI at another flight school on the field advised that he had observed the incident. He stated that the student porpoised several times, making no apparent attempt to recover. The student pilot left the airport and returned to his barracks at Quantico. He met with the administrators of the Introductory Flight Screening program and advised them that he had been nervous during all flights and had decided flying was not for him. He dropped himself from the program. On October 2, 2007, further inspection of the airplane revealed that there was damage to the airplane's firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N733BS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733BS), registered now, S/N 17268173 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna C172N - 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: 17268173 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Manassas Aviation Center, Inc - Registered owner: Flowmeter Services, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HEF, Manassas, VA - Destination: HEF, Manassas, VA - Airport: HEF, Manassas Regional, runway 16R, 3,702 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KIAD ## 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 20070825829909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070825829909A), Aug 25, 2007: Cessna 172N, Manassas, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was on his third solo flight and on landing porpoised the aircraft several times down the runway. The damage that was done to the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N733BS (2) 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 ERA09CA430](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA430), Jul 30, 2009: Cessna 172N (N733BS), Manassas, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. - [NTSB CHI79FET26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FET26-202532), Jun 6, 1979: Cessna 172 (N733BS), Willard, OH, substantial damage 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.