# NTSB BFO85LA027: Cessna 172N, N1564E, Charlottesville, VA, March 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1985, 11:27 local (16:27 UTC)
- Place: Charlottesville, VA
- Location: 38.1396° N, 78.4523° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHARLOTTESVILLE-ALBEMARLE (CHO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1396&lon=-78.4523&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85LA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11165/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85LA027

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING AN APCH TO LAND, MODERATE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED & THAT THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE. SINCE THE ACFT WAS LOW & FAST, HE ADJUSTED THE POWER & EXTENDED 10 THEN 20 DEG OF FLAPS. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD, HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE & SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. THE ACFT BOUNCED AFTER TOUCHING DOWN & BEGAN TO PORPOISE. AFTER THE 3RD BOUNCE, WITH THE THROTTLE STILL CLOSED, THE PLT ELECTED TO GO AROUND. HE APPLIED POWER & ABORTED THE LANDING. ONCE IN THE PATTERN, HE REALIZED THERE WAS DAMAGE & MADE A FLY-BY, BUT TOWER PSNL COULD NOT VERIFY THE DAMAGE. ON THE 2ND LANDING, THE ACFT BALLOONED & BOUNCED AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL BOUNCES, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT WAS STOPPED ON THE RWY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - performed
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - performed
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1564E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1564E), registered now, S/N 17271048, 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: 17271048
- Airframe hours: 1300
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dulles Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Michel S. Kulick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: W10, MANASSAS, VA
- Airport: CHO, Charlottesville Albemarle, runway 21, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 22 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHO

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.