# NTSB CEN09CA404: Cessna 172S, N538ND, Grand Forks, ND, July 2, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2009, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.941805, -97.176322 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9418&lon=-97.1763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Fargo FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA404
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74182/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74182
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA404

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The accident occurred during the student pilot's third landing on his first solo flight. He reported that his first two landings were uneventful, but the airplane landed hard on the third landing for unknown reasons. An after-flight inspection revealed that one of the propeller blade tips was curled from contact with the runway and that the engine firewall was substantially deformed.

## Factual narrative

The accident occurred during the student pilot's third landing on his first solo flight. He reported that his first two landings were uneventful, but the airplane landed hard on the third landing for unknown reasons. An after-flight inspection revealed that one of the propeller blade tips was curled from contact with the runway and that the engine firewall was substantially deformed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N538ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N538ND), registered now, S/N 172S10832, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10832
- Airframe hours: 558
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: UND Aerospace Foundation
- Registered owner: UND Aerospace Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 29, 2009
- Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND
- Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND
- Airport: KGFK, Grand Forks International, runway 35L, 7,349 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KGFK

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74182. 570 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 570 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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