CEN12CA624

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172R · Salina, KS · September 11, 2012

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 11, 2012, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
Place
Salina, KS
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N824KSCessna 172R
Defining event
Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 22, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20120911022109A
Case key
85010

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

On this page

Probable cause

The flight instructor's improper flare in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard 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.

Performance/control parameters: landing flareAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationCessna 172R: 37 casesAll aircraft: 1,285 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to conditionCessna 172R: 10 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

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

The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing takeoffs and landings. During the climb after a stop-and-go landing on the 4,300 foot long runway, the flight instructor reduced the engine power to idle to demonstrate a simulated engine-out landing to the student pilot. The flight instructor reported that the airplane made a rapid descent from about 200 feet above ground level, and then he flared too high; the airplane landed hard on the runway, substantially damaging the airplane’s firewall. The flight instructor stated that the wind at the time was from about 10 degrees left of the runway heading at 28 knots, gusting to 33 knots. The flight instructor reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions.

Factual narrative

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were practicing takeoff and landings. After performing a stop-and-go on the 4,300 foot long runway, the CFI pulled the engine back to idle to demonstrate a simulated engine-out landing to the student pilot. The CFI reported that the airplane made a rapid descent from about 200 feet above ground level, he flared too high and the airplane landed hard on the runway. The CFI stated that the wind was 10 degrees from the runway heading, and gusting to 33 knots at the time. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's firewall. The CFI did not report any mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N824KS
Reported as
Cessna 172R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17280564
Airframe hours
5,493
Engine
Lycoming IO-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Kansas State University Salina
Registered owner
Kansas State University Salina
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · August 29, 2012 · 22 hours before
Departed
KSLN · Salina, KS
Destination
KSLN · Salina, KS
Airport
KSLN · Salina Municipal Airport, runway 18, 4,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
25
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 2, 2012
Seat
Right
Flight hours
287 total · 165 in this make and model · 205 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 23 knots, gusting 31
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
95 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
29.85 inHg
Observed at
KSLN

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB 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.