# NTSB CEN23LA430: Cessna 172S, N529ER, West Bend, WI, September 13, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 13, 2023, 16:46 local (21:46 UTC)
- Place: West Bend, WI
- Coordinates: 43.422167, -88.127917
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4222&lon=-88.1279&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193866
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA430
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193866/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193866
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA430

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate landing flare that resulted in a hard landing and impact with the runway.

## 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 · 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: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: 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

The student pilot reported that he was conducting a solo cross-country flight and while landing, the nose wheel of the airplane contacted the runway surface hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, firewall, and floorboard areas. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of his submitted NTSB form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, he noted the need to watch [air]speed on landing, control the descent, and avoid pushing down on the yoke.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N529ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N529ER), registered now, S/N 172S9111, built 2002 (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: 172S9111
- Year built: 2002
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Pilotsmith
- Registered owner: Ps N529er LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GRB, Green Bay, WI
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: ETB, West Bend Muni, runway 31, 4,494 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 160 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: KETB
- METAR: METAR KETB 091515Z AUTO 03004KT 10SM CLR 17/13 A3023 RMK AO2=

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193866. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17500722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17500778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf
- Photographs of the accident airplane (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17500348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.

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