# NTSB CEN12CA426: Cessna 172S, N548ND, Grand Forks, ND, July 10, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2012, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.949443, -97.176109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9494&lon=-97.1761&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 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 84262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA426 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA426 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed 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: 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) ## 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 According to the student pilot, he entered the downwind leg for the runway as instructed by the tower controller. The airplane was stabilized on final approach, but the student pilot initiated the landing flare too late, resulting in a hard landing. As he turned onto the taxiway to complete the after-landing checklist, he discovered that the nosewheel tire had deflated. A postaccident examination revealed that the firewall and floorboard panels were wrinkled. The student pilot reported no preaccident anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he entered the downwind leg for runway 17L as instructed by the control tower. The airspeed was about 80 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed). When he passed his aiming (touchdown) point, he initiated a descent. The airplane was stabilized on final approach, but when the student pilot went to land, he flared too late, resulting in a hard landing. The student pilot turned onto the taxiway to do an after-landing checklist and discovered the nose wheel tire was deflated. A postaccident examination revealed that the firewall and floorboard panels were wrinkled. The student pilot reported no preaccident anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## 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: 1658 - 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: AAIP, June 27, 2012, 0 hours before - Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KGFK, Grand Forks International, runway 17L, 3,900 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 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 20120710014209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120710014209A), Jul 10, 2012: Cessna 172S, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing, flared late causing hard landing causing structural damage to engine firewall. Student pilot certificate:# [privacy data omitted] ## 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 CEN11CA624](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA624), Sep 5, 2011: Cessna 172S (N548ND), Bemidji, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84262. 558 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 509 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.