# NTSB CHI00LA242: Cessna 172R, N395ES, Luzerne, MI, August 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2000, 21:00 local (Aug 5, 2000, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Luzerne, MI - Coordinates: 44.610797, -84.26094 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6108&lon=-84.2609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49921/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA242 ## Probable cause the misjudged flare and porpoise encountered during landing by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the collapse of the nose gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The airplane was damaged during a nose over following a nose gear collapse while landing. The pilot said that during landing the '... plane ballooned and gained noticeable altitude. At this point I [the pilot] determined that it was too late to do a go-around. During the attempt to get on the runway, main gear contact was made very hard, bouncing plane airborne. Then the plane porpoised down the runway until the nose gear collapsed.' The pilot indicated no mechanical failure or malfunction in his report of the accident. A postaccident examination of the aircraft failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. The pilot's airman certificate was issued on July 6, 2000. The pilot listed, in his written report, 88.1 hours total flight time and 29.9 hours as pilot in command. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2000, at 2100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N395ES, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a nose over following a nose gear collapse while landing on runway 36 (2,600 feet by 100 feet, dry turf), at the Lost Creek Airport (5Y4), Luzerne, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was on a visual flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight originated from the South Bend Regional Airport, South Bend, Indiana at 1815 and was en route to 5Y4. In a written statement, the pilot said that during landing the "... plane ballooned and gained noticeable altitude. At this point I [the pilot] determined that it was too late to do a go-around. During the attempt to get on the runway, main gear contact was made very hard, bouncing plane airborne. Then the plane porpoised down the runway until the nose gear collapsed." The pilot indicated no mechanical failure or malfunction in his report of the accident. A postaccident examination of the aircraft failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. The pilot's airman certificate was issued on July 6, 2000. The pilot listed, in his written report, 88.1 hours total flight time and 29.9 hours as pilot in command. ## Aircraft - Registration: N395ES (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280144 - Airframe hours: 668 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: S And B Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2000, 70 hours before - Departed: SBN, SOUTH BEND, IN - Destination: 5Y4 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 5Y4, Lost Creek Airport, runway 36, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 88 total, 88 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HTL, 25 nm away ## 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 20000804036659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000804036659A), Aug 4, 2000: Cessna 172, Luzerne, MI, No damage. (-23) Pilot attempting to land on rwy 36 (sod rwy). Pilot stated that on approach over trees, reduced throttle to idle. While landing, pilot reported he… 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.