# NTSB BFO90LA068: Cessna 172N, N1516E, Tangier Island, VA, August 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1990, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Tangier Island, VA
- Coordinates: 37.820365, -75.990051 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8204&lon=-75.9901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11608/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA068

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT LANDED AT 65 KTS WITH 20 DEG OF FLAPS. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN, THE ACFT STRUCK A 'RIPPLE' ON THE RWY, CAUSING THE ACFT TO BECOME AIRBORNE. HE ADDED POWER IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO AVOID A HARD LANDING. AFTER THE ACFT LANDED AGAIN, IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE PLT SUSPECTED THE NOSE GEAR WAS DAMAGED FROM THE HARD LANDING, SO HE SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISED THE FLAPS AND ADDED POWER TO GO-AROUND. THE ACFT BEGAN CLIMBING, BUT BEGAN TO SINK AS THE FLAPS RETRACTED. THE ACFT LANDED HARD AGAIN, SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND NOSED DOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1516E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1516E-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 172 71030, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271030
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Page Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CAPE CHARLES, VA
- Airport: TGI, Tangier Island, runway 2, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PHF

## 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 19900802029559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900802029559A), Aug 2, 1990: Cessna 172N, Tangier, VA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on landing damaging the nose gear. Blamed ripples in runway.

## Other investigations on N1516E (1)

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 GAA19CA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA407), Jul 3, 2019: Cessna 172 (N1516E), Montville, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain the proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a low-altitude climbing turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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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