# NTSB ATL97LA146: Cessna 172N, N75522, Fuquay-Varina, NC, September 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1997, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Fuquay-Varina, NC - Coordinates: 35.540847, -78.829696 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5408&lon=-78.8297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3911/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged flare, improper level-off, and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated he was coming in too fast on final approach. As he crossed the threshold, he began his flare and ballooned. He dropped the nose, landed, and bounced. He stated he then landed on the nose wheel and the aircraft flipped over. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1997, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N75522, collided with the runway during landing at the Triple W Airport, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by C & C Aircraft Services 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 local personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot, the sole occupant, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Fuquay-Varina, at 1300 eastern daylight time, on the same day. The pilot stated to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's Winston-Salem Flight Standards District Office, that the landing attempt was fast, resulting in a hard, bounced landing. When the airplane bounced back into the air, the pilot stated, he added power and "...must have pulled back on the stick, because the airplane stalled out and landed again, hard on the nose wheel." The pilot stated that he was on final approach when he realized his airspeed was dropping below 60 knots. He then dropped the nose and added power. His airspeed was almost 75 knots as he neared the threshold. When crossing the threshold, the pilot said he began his flare and balooned. He stated he dropped the nose and the aircraft bounced. He said he landed on the nose wheel which broke off and the airplane landed on its back. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75522](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75522), registered now, S/N 17267779 (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: 17267779 - Airframe hours: 3061 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: C & C Aircraft Services - Registered owner: Clyde W. Canup - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 8, 1997, 21 hours before - Departed: 5W5 - Airport: 5W5, Triple W, runway 16, 3,004 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 416 total, 238 in this make and model, 296 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RDU ## 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 19970926037609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970926037609A), Sep 26, 1997: Cessna 172N, Raleigh, NC, Substantial damage. Bounced landing. Added power pulled aft yoke. Stalled. Impact on nose gear.(-23) pilot porpoised on landing. Aircraft laned hard on nosewheel. Nosewheel broke… 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.