# NTSB CEN24LA349: Cessna 172R, N988CP, Hooper, NE, June 23, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 23, 2024, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Hooper, NE - Coordinates: 41.611515, -96.623664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6115&lon=-96.6237&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-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA349 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA349 ## Probable cause The solo student pilot’s unstable approach to the runway, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting her initial solo flight. During her turn to final, she realized the airplane was high and attempted to correct by adjusting pitch and engine power. The airplane bounced on initial touchdown, and then porpoised on the runway. After the multiple touchdowns, the student pilot was able to slow the airplane on the runway and taxi to the ramp. During the landing, the tail struck the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N988CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N988CP), registered now, S/N 17280254, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280254 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 3617 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Civil Air Patrol Inc - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SCB, Scribner State Airport, runway 17, 4,200 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7 total, 7 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KFET, 11 nm away - METAR: KFET 231515Z AUTO 20005KT 10SM CLR 26/19 A2997 RMK AO2 T02590188= ## 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 20240623015519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240623015519A), Jun 23, 2024: Cessna 172R, Wahoo, NE, Substantial damage. The accident was not reported at the time of occurrence. The aircraft accident was discovered more than 60 days after its occurrence via a hotline complaint.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195100. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18042805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 910 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18043852&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.