# NTSB CEN13CA289: Cessna 172S, N947SP, Ankeny, IA, May 14, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 13, 2013, 19:00 local (May 14, 2013, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Ankeny, IA - Coordinates: 41.691112, -93.56639 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6911&lon=-93.5664&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 July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA289 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Fuselage: bulkheads (main fuselage)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035312): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035312/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035312/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 During the second landing of the student pilot’s first solo flight, the airplane landed flat and bounced three to four times. The student pilot taxied off the runway and determined that the airplane appeared to be operating properly. The student pilot flew one more takeoff and landing which were uneventful. The postflight inspection of the airplane revealed that one propeller blade tip was bent aft and the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident. ## Factual narrative During the second landing of the student pilot’s first solo flight, the airplane landed flat and bounced three to four times. The student pilot taxied off the runway and determined that the airplane appeared to be operating properly. The student pilot flew one more takeoff and landing which were uneventful. The postflight inspection of the airplane revealed that one propeller blade tip was bent aft and the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N947SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N947SP-2019-03-25), registration cancelled 2019-03-25, S/N 172S8142, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8142 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Exec 1 Aviation - Registered owner: Central Iowa Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IKV, Ankeny, IA - Destination: IKV, Ankeny, IA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: IKV, Ankeny Regional Airport, runway 18, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 185° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: IKV ## 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 20130513008919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130513008919A), May 13, 2013: Cessna 172S, Ankeny, IA, Substantial damage. Student pilot during first solo flight. The first landing, made to a full stop, was uneventful. During second landing the pilot did not flare sufficiently; the… ## Other investigations on N947SP (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 GAA16CA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA093), Jan 2, 2016: Cessna 172 (N947SP), Newton, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the takeoff, resulting in a runway excursion, and airplane nose over. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86956. 817 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 633 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 3, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%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. --- 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.