# NTSB CEN22LA205: Cessna 172N, N2128E, Auburn, IN, May 19, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 19, 2022, 11:21 local (15:21 UTC) - Place: Auburn, IN - Coordinates: 41.307618, -85.063952 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3076&lon=-85.0640&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105101/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105101 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA205 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial response which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that shortly before touchdown, the student pilot flared too low, overcorrected, and the airplane ballooned. The instructor then took the flight controls and initiated a go around; however, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, went to the left, and landed hard. The left wing impacted the ground and the airplane rolled off the runway and came to rest in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard portion of the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2128E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2128E), registered now, S/N 17271165, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271165 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5801.4 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Century Aviation - Registered owner: Blue Bird Rental LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2021 - Departed: KGWB, Auburn, IN - Destination: KGWB, Auburn, IN - Airport: GWB, DeKalb County Airport, runway 27, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 69; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19 total, 7 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 434 total, 288 in this make and model, 402 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KGWB - METAR: KGWB 191515Z AUTO 20005KT 7SM CLR 19/15 A2978 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220519007369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220519007369A), May 19, 2022: Cessna 172N, Auburn, IN, Substantial damage. During a student instructional flight for a private pilot certificate, N2128E, a Cessna model 172-N made a hard landing with the left wingtip striking the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105101. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13977190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%205-19-2022_Redacted%201-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13977832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pics%20for%20Docket-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14025708&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.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.