# NTSB CHI04LA248: Cessna 172, N2355E, Gary, IN, September 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2004, 18:42 local (23:42 UTC) - Place: Gary, IN - Coordinates: 41.61639, -87.41278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6164&lon=-87.4128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: NTSB, FAA, South Bend, IN FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60074/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA248 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose wheel for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the student pilot's failure to properly flare the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - landing gear,wheel - failure (cause) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a failure of the nose wheel during a landing. The student reported she made three takeoffs and landings with her flight instructor in the airplane. He then deplaned and she continued to practice more takeoffs and landings. She stated that everything was normal on the fifth solo landing until she heard a loud noise as the nose wheel touched down on the runway. She stated the airplane veered right and came to an abrupt stop. The student pilot exited the airplane and noticed the nose tire was flat, the wheel rim was missing, and the propeller had contacted the runway. During a telephone interview the student pilot stated the landing was not the smoothest one she has made, nor was it the hardest. When asked if the main gear or nose gear touched the runway first, she stated she believes that all three gear touched down at the same time. Pieces of the wheel which were collected off the runway were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for examination. The Materials Laboratory examination revealed the pieces that were examined contained features that were consistent with overstress fractures. However, the pieces received did not make up the entire wheel. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2004, at 1842 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N2355E, sustained firewall damage when the a nose wheel failed while landing on runway 12 (7,003 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY), Gary, Indiana. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo training flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated at GYY at 1815. The student reported she made three takeoffs and landings with her flight instructor in the airplane. He then deplaned and she continued to practice more takeoffs and landings. She stated that everything was normal on the fifth solo landing until she heard a loud noise as the nose wheel touched down on the runway. She stated the airplane then "moved to the right and came to an abrupt stop." The student pilot stated she exited the airplane and noticed the nose tire was flat, the wheel rim was missing, and the propeller had contacted the runway. During a telephone interview the student pilot stated the landing was not the smoothest one she has made, nor was it the hardest. When asked if the main gear or nose gear touched the runway first, she stated she believes that all three gear touched down at the same time. Pieces of the wheel which were collected off the runway were sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for examination. The pieces received did not make up the entire wheel. The Materials Laboratory examination revealed the pieces that were examined contained features that were consistent with overstress fractures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2355E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2355E), registered now, S/N 17271248, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271248 - Airframe hours: 4860 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AO 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Professionals, Inc. - Registered owner: Lab LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 2004, 15 hours before - Departed: GYY, Gary, IN - Destination: GYY, Gary, IN - Airport: GYY, Gary, runway 12, 6,290 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: GYY ## 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 20040904026409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040904026409A), Sep 4, 2004: Cessna 172N, Gary, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot on a practice solo flight performing takeoff's and landings to a full stop. The fifth landing of a series resulted in substantial damage… 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.