# NTSB CHI05CA124: Cessna 172S, N860SA, Port Huron, MI, May 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 21, 2005, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Port Huron, MI - Coordinates: 42.910831, -82.528892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9108&lon=-82.5289&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 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Belleville, MI, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61622 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61622/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA124 ## Probable cause The pilot not performing a go-around and misjudging the flare leading to a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - terrain condition - runway - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on a runway 28. The pilot stated, "Upon turning base leg I determined that I was high and reduced power to idle. I maintained an airspeed of 65 [knots] and judged that I would touch down at the runway midpoint. At the midpoint I had not touched down and was still 30 to 50 [feet] above the runway. Instead of going around I attempted to land. In the process I rotated [too] soon and [too] much. This resulted in landing at a higher speed. I landed hard and bounced up. I maintained direction accurately and stopped the aircraft within the confines of the runway." Recorded wind at the airport was 310 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the flight. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2005, about 1035 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N860SA, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 28 (4,001 feet by 75 feet) at the St Clair County International Airport (PHN), near Port Huron, Michigan. The solo instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was uninjured. The flight originated from the Huron County Memorial Airport, near Bad Axe, Michigan, about 0945. The pilot's accident report stated: Upon turning base leg I determined that I was high and reduced power to idle. I maintained an airspeed of 65 [knots] and judged that I would touch down at the runway midpoint. At the midpoint I had not touched down and was still 30 to 50 [feet] above the runway. Instead of going around I attempted to land. In the process I rotated [too] soon and [too] much. This resulted in landing at a higher speed. I landed hard and bounced up. I maintained direction accurately and stopped the aircraft within the confines of the runway. At 1035, the recorded weather at PHN was: Wind 310 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 21 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N860SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N860SA), registered now, S/N 172S8860, built 2001 (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: 172S8860 - Airframe hours: 2581 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Saint Clair Flight Academy Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2005, 41 hours before - Departed: BAX, BAD AXE, MI - Destination: PHN, Port Huron, MI - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PHN ## 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 20050521010269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050521010269A), May 21, 2005: Cessna 172S, Port Huron, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing pilot stalled early and landed hard. 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.