# NTSB CHI07CA004: Cessna 172N, N4775D, St Charles, MO, October 8, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2006, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: St Charles, MO - Coordinates: 38.848609, -90.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8486&lon=-90.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-St Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64692/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly judge the landing flare and his inadequate recovery from the resulting bounced landing. A contributing factor was the inadvertent pilot induced oscillation (porpoise) after initial runway contact. ## 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 - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway during landing. The pilot reported that he entered a right downwind for runway 27. Upon turning final, he realized that the airplane was high. He corrected by increasing the flap setting to 30 degrees and reducing power in order to descend "a little quicker." He stated, "As I came over the threshold, I realized I was coming down too fast, but still felt I was OK. In the last seconds, I realized I was in trouble. The force with which we hit the runway was much harder than I expected." The airplane bounced upon contact with the runway. The pilot noted, "I thought it would bounce and then settle down. When it porpoised, I failed to take action to correct it, resulting in the wreck." ## Factual narrative The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway during landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot reported that he was returning from a local flight when the accident occurred. He noted that the winds were calm. The pilot reported that he entered a right downwind for runway 27. Upon turning final, he realized that the airplane was high. He corrected by increasing the flap setting to 30 degrees and reducing power in order to descend "a little quicker." He stated, "As I came over the threshold, I realized I was coming down too fast, but still felt I was OK. In the last seconds, I realized I was in trouble. The force with which we hit the runway was much harder than I expected." The pilot stated that the airplane bounced upon contact with the runway. He noted, "I thought it would bounce and then settle down. When it porpoised, I failed to take action to correct it, resulting in the wreck." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures associated with the aircraft prior to the accident. The post accident examination revealed that the nose landing gear had collapsed and the firewall was damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4775D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4775D), registered now, S/N 17272357, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-H2AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-h2ad) (registry code 42131, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272357 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: St Charles Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: 3SQ, St Charles, MO - Airport: 3SQ, St Charles, runway 27, 3,451 × 49 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 226 total, 39 in this make and model, 138 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: STL, 9 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 20061008021139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061008021139A), Oct 8, 2006: Cessna 172N, St Charles, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot said he landed briefly, went airborne, came down and bounced back up two or three times. The last time he was airborne, he pulled back on the yoke… 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.