# NTSB CEN13CA112: Cessna 172M, N9660H, Eveleth, MN, December 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 21, 2012, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Eveleth, MN - Coordinates: 47.424999, -92.498054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4250&lon=-92.4981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85889/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85889 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA112 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard nosewheel landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot planned to practice a takeoff and landing before departing on a short solo flight. The student pilot reported that the approach was normal, but during the landing, the airplane’s nosewheel touched the runway first. The airplane bounced a couple times before the student pilot brought the airplane to a stop. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel landing gear was compressed, the propeller bent, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The student pilot planned on practicing a takeoff and landing, before departing on a short solo flight. The student pilot reported that the approach was normal, but during the landing, the airplane’s nosewheel touched the runway first. The airplane bounced a couple times before the student pilot brought the airplane to a stop. Post flight examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel landing gear was compressed, the propeller bent, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9660H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9660H), registered now, S/N 17266297, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266297 - Airframe hours: 8892 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Taconite Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Taconite Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 6, 2012 - Departed: KEVM, Eveleth, MN - Destination: KEVM, Eveleth, MN - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KEVM, Eveleth-Virginia Muncipal, runway 32, 2,505 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 3 °F, dew point -2 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KEVM ## 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 20121221027529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121221027529A), Dec 21, 2012: Cessna 172M, Eveleth, MN, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on a solo flight. On his first landing during this solo the aircraft touched down nose wheel first, bounced and came down on the nose wheel… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85889. 599 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (statements) (item 2, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20%20(statements)-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384198&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.