# NTSB CEN13LA348: Cessna 172S, N552ND, Grand Forks, ND, June 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2013, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.947223, -97.173889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9472&lon=-97.1739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Cessna Aircraft, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA348 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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); 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) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot was attempting to land the airplane on the runway. His first attempt to land was too fast, so he performed a go-around. During the second attempted landing, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The student initiated a second go-around and pitched the nose up 10 to15 degrees. During the climb, the airplane rolled left, stalled, and then impacted the ground. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2013, about 1330 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S airplane, N552ND, impacted terrain during a go-around maneuver at the Grand Forks International Airport (KGFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. The solo student pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the University of North Dakota under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from KGFK about 1200. According to information provided by the University of North Dakota, the pilot departed the airport and flew practice maneuvers in a local air work area before returning to the airport for landing practice. The first attempt to land was too fast, so a go-around was performed. During the second attempt to land, the airplane landed hard and bounced. A go-around was performed and during the climb, the left wing dropped. The airplane descended and impacted terrain about 50 degrees nose low attitude. An examination of the airframe and engine, conducted by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), did not detect any preimpact malfunctions or failures which would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a Garmin G1000. Data extracted from this device revealed that the airplane touched down with an indicated airspeed about 40 knots. The airplane bounced and the airplane's nose was pitched up to 15 degrees. As the airspeed decayed to about 25 knots, the pilot applied engine power, and pitched the airplane 10-15 degrees nose up. The airplane touched down again and rolled a short distance down the runway before taking off with the airspeed at about 30 knots. The airplane pitched to 20 degrees nose high as the airplane stalled and rolled left. The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) informs pilots that "[w]hen a bounce is severe, the safest procedure is to execute a go-around immediately." In addition, "[f]ull power should be applied while simultaneously maintaining directional control, and lowering the nose to a safe climb attitude." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N552ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N552ND), registered now, S/N 172S10859 (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: 172S10859 - Airframe hours: 3258 - 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, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 24, 2013 - Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Airport: KGFK, Grand Forks International, runway 17R, 7,351 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 87 total, 87 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 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 20130613010459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130613010459A), Jun 13, 2013: Cessna 172S, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. PIC bounced on landing then applied full power to go around. Witnesses stated aircraft stalled and turned to left from approximately 50 feet AGL hitting runway… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87188. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Wreckage overview (photo from UND) (item 2, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wreckage%20overview%20(photo%20from%20UND)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Propeller (photo from UND) (item 3, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Propeller%20(photo%20from%20UND)-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Garman G1000 data excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Garman%20G1000%20data%20excerpt-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representative to NTSB Investigation: Cessna (item 5, .PDF, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representative%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation%3A%20Cessna-Redacted.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.