# NTSB ATL97LA032: Cessna 172N, N1445E, Anderson, SC, January 2, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1997, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Anderson, SC
- Coordinates: 34.510776, -82.639129 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5108&lon=-82.6391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA032

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's improper level off.

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he touched down hard and bounced. He released back pressure on the control yoke and the nose of the airplane subsequently dropped. The airplane porpoised three times and came to a stop. The propeller had struck the runway, the nose gear was bent, the firewall was bent, and the fuselage underside was wrinkled.

## Factual narrative

On January 2, 1997, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N1445E, landed hard at the Anderson County Airport, Anderson, South Carolina. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Augusta, Georgia, about 1615, on the same day.

The pilot reported that his approach to landing was acceptable, crossing the threshold at 60 knots. At touch down the airplane ballooned, then porpoised three times onto the nose landing gear. The pilot examined the airplane after it had stopped on the runway. The nose gear was bent rearward and the fuselage underside was wrinkled. The pilot also indicated that it was his first flight in a 172, with his prior experience all in a 150. He stated that he received a checkout from the same FBO in a 152 in August 1996. When he rented the airplane for this flight, he was assigned N1445E.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1445E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1445E), registered now, S/N 17271004, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- 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: 17271004
- Airframe hours: 9381
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2A0 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David R. Fitzpatrick
- Registered owner: Augusta Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 26, 1996, 5 hours before
- Departed: AGS, AUGUSTA, GA
- Destination: AND
- Airport: AND, Anderson County, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 3 in this make and model, 121 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AND, 1 nm away

## 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 19970102023159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970102023159A), Jan 2, 1997: Cessna 172N, Anderson, SC, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised. Stopped on runway. Nose gear bent rearward. Belly skin wrinkled. (-23) damaged airplane while landing at Anderson, s.c.

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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