# NTSB CEN10CA075: Cessna 172, N172BJ, Pearland, TX, December 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 11, 2009, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.52111, -95.241943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5211&lon=-95.2419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA075 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to control the airplane's descent rate during the short-field landing, resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight examiner's delayed response. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Designated examiner (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he was performing a short-field landing to runway 14 during his flight examination. Approximately 50 feet above ground level it was apparent to the pilot that he was not going to land on his intended touchdown point, and the flight examiner in the right seat directed the pilot to go around. The student pilot applied full power, however the airplane landed hard before becoming airborne again. The flight examiner took over the flight controls and successfully landed the airplane. An examination of the airplane revealed that the the nose gear was bent and that the firewall and fuselage skin aft of the nose gear was wrinkled. The pilot and examiner were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane and that weather was not a factor. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated he was performing a short field landing to runway 14 during his flight examination. Approximately 50 feet above ground level it was apparent to the pilot that he was not going to land on his intended touchdown point, and the flight examiner in the right seat directed the pilot to go-around. The student pilot applied full power, however, the airplane “landed hard” before becoming airborne again. The flight examiner took over the flight controls and successfully landed the airplane. An examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was wrinkled, the nose gear bent, and the fuselage skin aft of the nose gear was wrinkled. The pilot and examiner were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane and that weather was not a contributing factor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N172BJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172BJ-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 17264243, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - 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: 17264243 - Engines: LYCOMING O320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KLVJ, Pearland, TX - Destination: KLVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: KLVJ, Pearland Regional Airport, runway 14, 4,313 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 980 total, 40 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command - Check pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 16,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ ## Other investigations on N172BJ (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 CEN13LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA104), Dec 7, 2012: Cessna 172M (N172BJ), Arcola, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75171. 674 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 674 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323872&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. --- 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.