# NTSB CEN23LA355: Cessna 172S, N6319G, Waco, TX, August 7, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 6, 2023, 22:15 local (Aug 7, 2023, 03:15 UTC) - Place: Waco, TX - Coordinates: 31.61353, -97.226852 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6135&lon=-97.2269&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192831 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192831/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192831 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA355 ## Probable cause The solo student pilot’s improper descent path which resulted in a hard landing on the nose wheel and subsequent bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/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: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported he was anxious on the flight controls in preparation for night landing. During the approach, he felt the airplane was higher above the runway than his actual altitude, and he descended the airplane in a nose low attitude which caused a hard landing on the nose wheel. The student pilot then pulled back on the control yoke, and subsequently the airplane porpoised and settled on to the runway surface. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N6319G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10781 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 7270 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 21, 2023 - Departed: HYI, San Marcos, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ACT, Waco Rgnl, runway 19, 7,107 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 211 total, 75 in this make and model, 155 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: KACT - METAR: KACT 070351Z 14009KT 10SM CLR 33/17 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP119 T03330172 ## 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 20230806010939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230806010939A), Aug 6, 2023: Cessna 172S, Waco, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was completing a solo cross country flight towards his hour and landing requirements to obtain a commerical pilot certificate. Upon arrival at his… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192831. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16029396&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16028973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.