# NTSB ATL97LA128: Cessna 172M, N9625V, Lawrenceville, GA, August 31, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1997, 13:18 local (17:18 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceville, GA
- Location: 33.9720° N, 83.9782° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GWINNETT COUNTY/BRISCOE FLD (LZU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9720&lon=-83.9782&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3896
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3896/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA128

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper go-around technique that resulted in an inadvertent stall.  A factor was a premature flare for landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - flare - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, during the first touch-and-go landing he flared early, recognized he would land hard, and added power.  The nose pitched up and the airplane stalled.  The pilot stated he held the stall for about 25 to 40 feet, hoping to do a go-around.  The airplane then yawed left and the left wing dropped, impacting the runway.  The airplane then skidded off the runway.

## Factual narrative

On August 31, 1997, about 1318 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N9625V, collided with the runway during the landing portion of a touch and go landing at the Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia. The airplane was operated by The Flight School under the provisions of Title 14 Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the solo instructional flight. The student pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from the same airport abut 1300, on the same day.

According to the pilot, he departed the airport for the practice area, and returned for touch and go landings. During the first attempted touch and go landing, the pilot stated he flared early, recognized he would land hard, and added power. The nose pitched up and the airplane stalled.  The pilot stated he held the stall for about 25 to 40 feet, hoping to do a go-around.  The airplane then yawed left and the left wing dropped, impacting the runway.  The airplane then skidded off the runway.  According to the pilot, the outboard 1/4 to 1/3 of the left wing was bent upward.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9625V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9625V), registered now, S/N 17264405, 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: 17264405
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: The Flight School
- Registered owner: American East Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LZU
- Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County-Briscoe, runway 7, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 10 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LZU, 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 19970831024959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970831024959A), Aug 31, 1997: Cessna 172M, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot practicing touch and go landings, aircraft landed hard, bounced up, appeared to stall before crashing. (-23) student pilot practicing touch and go…

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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