# NTSB CEN11CA624: Cessna 172S, N548ND, Bemidji, MN, September 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2011, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Bemidji, MN - Coordinates: 47.509998, -94.935554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5100&lon=-94.9356&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 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81722 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA624 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81722/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81722 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA624 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare, which 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 · Not attained/maintained (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) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the airplane ballooned during the flare and then dropped hard onto the runway, resulting in a hard landing. The airplane bounced three times before the student pilot initiated a go-around and landed uneventfully. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical or system failure prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that the airplane ballooned during the flare and then dropped hard onto the runway resulting in a hard landing. The airplane bounced three times before the student pilot initiated a go-around. The airplane was landed uneventfully. The postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical or system failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N548ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N548ND), registered now, S/N 172S11050, built 2010 (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: 172S11050 - Airframe hours: 1095 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University Of North Dakota - Registered owner: University Of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 2011 - Departed: GFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: BJI, Bemidji, MN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BJI, Bemidji Regional Airport, runway 13, 7,004 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: BJI ## 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 20110905019639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110905019639A), Sep 5, 2011: Cessna 172S, Bemidji, MN, Substantial damage. Student pilot cross country flight. A hard landing was made on the first leg at bji, the student continued to fosston, MN and returned to gfk where a 2nd hard… ## Other investigations on N548ND (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 CEN12CA426](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA426), Jul 10, 2012: Cessna 172S (N548ND), Grand Forks, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81722. 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=40354511&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.