CEN10LA563

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172S · Longmont, CO · September 22, 2010

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 22, 2010, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
Place
Longmont, CO
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2459KCessna 172S
Defining event
Landing: Hard landing
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 12, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20100922046759A
Case key
77413

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 172S: 32 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 172S: 99 casesAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the pilot, while on final approach to the runway and with the flaps positioned at 30 degrees, the airplane was high and fast. The airplane bounced during the landing, the pilot attempted an unsuccessful recovery. The airplane bounced again and the pilot initiated a go-around. He performed an uneventful second landing to the runway. After landing, damage to the propeller tips was observed and further examination revealed that the firewall was buckled. The pilot later informed the operator that the airplane was high and fast on final approach.

Factual narrative

On September 22, 2010, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N2459K, operated by McAir Aviation, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it made a hard landing at Vance Brand Airport (LMO), Longmont, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight originated at Rocky Mountain Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colorado, approximately 0930. According to the pilot's accident report, she intended to make a full-stop landing at LMO before returning to BJC. On final approach to runway 29 with an inoperative VASI (visual approach slope indicator), the flaps were positioned at 30 degrees, but the airplane was high and fast. The airplane touched down and bounced. The pilot corrected by adding power and pitching down but overcompensated, and the airplane bounced again. Full power was applied and the pilot made a go-around. The second landing was successful and the pilot returned to BJC. No RPM loss noticed during the return flight. After landing at BJC, damage to the propeller tips was noticed. Further examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was buckled, The pilot later told the operator that she was "high and fast" on final at LMO.

Aircraft

Registration
N2459K
Reported as
Cessna 172S
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172S-10034
Airframe hours
2,163
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
McAir Aviation
Registered owner
Rigel Aviation, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · September 17, 2010 · 4 hours before
Departed
BJC · Broomfield, CO
Destination
BJC · Broomfield, CO
Airport
LMO · Vance Brand, runway 29, 4,800 × 75 ft, macadam

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
22
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 14, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
79 total · 78 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
40 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg
Observed at
BJC, 16 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 151 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N2459K · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.