# NTSB CEN12CA213: Cessna 172R, N368ES, Council Bluffs, IA, March 24, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 24, 2012, 08:22 local (13:22 UTC)
- Place: Council Bluffs, IA
- Coordinates: 41.259998, -95.758613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2600&lon=-95.7586&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83247/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83247
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA213

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings. He reported that he flared the airplane early and that it ballooned before bouncing firmly several times. The pilot subsequently lost directional control of the airplane, which then departed the side of the runway and collided with an airfield light. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall and fuselage. No other anomalies were found.

## Factual narrative

A student pilot was practicing takeoff and landings. He reported that he flared early and the airplane ballooned. The airplane then bounced firmly several times. The pilot lost direction control of the airplane and the airplane departed the side of the runway colliding with an airfield light. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the firewall and fuselage. No other anomalies were found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N368ES](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N368ES), registered now, S/N 17280022, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280022
- Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Advanced Air Inc
- Registered owner: Advanced Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KCBF, Council Bluffs, IA
- Destination: KCBF, Council Bluffs, IA
- Airport: KCBF, Council Bluffs Municipal, runway 32, 3,650 × 60 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KCBF

## 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 20120324004329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120324004329A), Mar 24, 2012: Cessna 172R, Council Bluffs, IA, Substantial damage. Prior to landing, the pilot stated he prematurely flared and the plane ballooned. He tried to recover the aircraft, the plane struck the runway, porpoised…

## Other investigations on N368ES (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 CEN13CA529](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA529), Sep 4, 2013: Cessna 172R (N368ES), Council Bluff, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83247. 30 KB in all.

- Student pilot's statement (item 1, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20pilot%27s%20statement-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.

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