# NTSB CEN10CA289: Cessna 172S, N1448Z, Greenfield, IN, June 1, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2010, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Greenfield, IN
- Coordinates: 39.843612, -85.896942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8436&lon=-85.8969&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 October 21, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76196
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA289
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76196/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76196
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA289

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced 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 · 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 pilot reported that she was practicing touch-and-go landings when the accident occurred. During her first touch-and-go, the airplane bounced after a hard landing. She attempted to correct for the bounced landing, but the airplane’s nose landing gear impacted the runway before the main landing gear. The airplane stabilized onto all three landing gear and she proceeded with the next takeoff. No anomalies were experienced with the two subsequent landings. A postflight inspection of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage floor structure. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that she was practicing touch-and-go landings when the accident occurred. During her first touch-and-go, the airplane bounced after a hard landing. She attempted to correct for the bounced landing, but the airplane’s nose landing gear impacted the runway before the main landing gear. The airplane stabilized onto all three landing gear and she proceeded with the next takeoff. No anomalies were experienced with the two subsequent landings. A postflight inspection of the airframe revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage floor structure. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1448Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1448Z), registered now, S/N 172S9891, built 2005 (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: 172S9891
- Airframe hours: 1508
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dlrm, LLC.
- Registered owner: Dlrm, LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2010
- Departed: KMQJ, Greenfield, IN
- Destination: KMQJ, Greenfield, IN
- Airport: KMQJ, Mount Comfort Airport, runway 25, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 95 total, 95 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KGEZ, 16 nm away

## 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 20100601034859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100601034859A), Jun 1, 2010: Cessna 172S, Greenfield, IN, Substantial damage. As the plane approached the runway for landing, the pilot realized the nose was low, began the flare and came down hard on the landing gear. A porpoise…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76196. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333885&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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