# NTSB CHI04CA165: Cessna 172S, N229ME, Fishers, IN, June 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2004, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Fishers, IN - Coordinates: 39.935276, -86.044998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9353&lon=-86.0450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration: Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59596/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA165 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate remedial actions after an inadequate landing flare and subsequent hard landing. Additional causes were the pilot-induced porpoise and the collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,nose gear assembly - collapsed (cause) - Nose down, landing ## Analysis The airplane experienced a hard landing, which was followed by a pilot-induced porpoise and the collapse of the nose landing gear. The student pilot was flying solo at the time of the accident. The pilot reported he crossed the runway threshold approximately 100 feet above ground level, and then reduced engine power to idle to initiate the descent to the runway. The pilot stated that during the landing flare the airplane touched down with a "mild impact," which was followed by the airplane bouncing back into the air. The pilot reported he continued to flare, with no addition of engine power, and the second touchdown was "harder than the first." The pilot stated, "No correction action attempted and third touchdown broke nose wheel, prop hit pavement and plane came to stop." He reported the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a go-around after experiencing the initial hard touchdown and subsequent bounce. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2004, at 1150 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N229ME, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when the nose landing gear collapsed during a landing attempt on runway 33 (3,850 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport (UMP), near Fishers, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The solo instructional flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight departed UMP at 1000. The student pilot reported that he had practiced maneuvers in the local area prior to returning to the airport to practice short-field landings. The pilot stated the accident occurred during the third landing attempt. The pilot reported he crossed the runway threshold approximately 100 feet above ground level, and then reduced engine power to idle to initiate the descent to the runway. The pilot stated that during the landing flare the airplane touched down with a "mild impact," which was followed by the airplane bouncing back into the air. The pilot reported he continued to flare, with no addition of engine power, and the second touchdown was "harder than the first." The pilot stated, "No correction action attempted and third touchdown broke nose wheel, prop hit pavement and plane came to stop." The pilot reported the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a go-around after experiencing the initial hard touchdown and subsequent bounce. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N229ME](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N229ME), registered now, S/N 172S8483, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8483 - Airframe hours: 1779.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Indianapolis Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Marks Aircraft, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2004, 34.6 hours before - Departed: UMP, Fishers, IN - Destination: UMP, Fishers, IN - Airport: UMP, Indianapolis Metropolitan, runway 33, 3,850 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: EYE, 13 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 20040626016649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040626016649A), Jun 26, 2004: Cessna 172S, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot while practicing/attempting short field landings lost control of aircraft after bouncing. Aircraft impacted runway with nose low attitude… ## Other investigations on N229ME (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD03CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03CA071), Aug 19, 2003: Cessna 172 (N229ME), Cleveland, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. 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.