# NTSB CEN11LA386: Cessna 172S, N539ND, Grand Forks, ND, June 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2011, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.947223, -97.173889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9472&lon=-97.1739&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: University of North Dakota, Federal Aviation Administration - Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA386 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80755/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80755 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA386 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action to the student pilot’s bounced landing and subsequent loss of aircraft control. ## 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; 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 flight instructor reported that his student was practicing landings, and the airplane touched down right of the runway centerline and began to bounce as the student attempted to realign with the centerline. The flight instructor indicated that a wind gust was likely responsible for the initial bounce, but the airplane continued to bounce with an escalating intensity. He noted that on the third or fourth bounce he assumed control of the airplane in order to abort the landing. He reported that before he could establish a climb the airplane experienced an additional hard landing. He regained control and landed the airplane without further incident. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2011, at 1210 central daylight time, a Cessna model 172S airplane, N539ND, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Grand Forks International Airport (KGFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. The flight instructor and student were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the University of North Dakota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local instructional flight originated from KGFK at 1110. The flight instructor reported that his student was practicing landings to runway 17R when the accident occurred. The student, who was obtaining instruction toward a flight instructor certificate, was flying from the right seat. The flight instructor reported that the airplane touched down right of the runway centerline and began to bounce as the student attempted to realign the airplane with the centerline. He stated that a wind gust was likely responsible for the initial bounce, but the airplane continued to bounce with an escalating intensity. He noted that on the third or fourth bounce he assumed control of the airplane in order to abort the landing. He reported that before he could establish a climb the airplane experienced an additional hard landing. He regained control and landed the airplane without further incident. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial buckling to the firewall. The nose landing gear was displaced 20-30 degrees forward. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. At 1153, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 160 degrees at 22 knots, gusting 27 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 2,300 feet above ground level (agl), broken ceilings 11,000 and 25,000 feet agl; temperature 21 degrees Celsius; dew point 14 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.87 inches of mercury. A peak wind velocity measuring 29 knots from 180 degrees was recorded at 1203. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N539ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N539ND), registered now, S/N 172S10850, 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: 172S10850 - Airframe hours: 2294 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University of North Dakota - Registered owner: UND Aerospace Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 27, 2011 - Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Airport: KGFK, Grand Forks International, runway 17R, 7,349 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,401 total, 718 in this make and model, 1,126 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 242 total, 0 in this make and model, 23 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 22 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KGFK ## 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 20110613011629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110613011629A), Jun 13, 2011: Cessna 172S, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR part 141 at Grand Forks International Airport. Aircraft sustained substantial damage from hard landing. Damage… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80755. 469 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.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.