# NTSB CHI07CA054: Cessna 172S, N364MA, Alton, IL, January 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 3, 2007, 12:51 local (18:51 UTC) - Place: Alton, IL - Coordinates: 38.890277, -90.046112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8903&lon=-90.0461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65163/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA054 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the airplane impacting a runway sign. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's misjudged landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - airport sign/marker - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear strut - collapsed - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot reported that she was on her first solo flight and her first landing attempt when she flared "too early, bounced hard and ballooned." She said that she attempted to recover, but bounced a second time, and went off the left side of the runway as she aborted the landing. The airplane struck a runway sign, and sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The airplane impacted a runway sign during an attempted aborted landing. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was her first solo flight. The pilot stated that the intent of the flight was to perform touch and goes on runway 17 (6,500 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt). The pilot reported that during her first landing attempt she began her flare "too early, bounced hard and ballooned." The pilot stated that she maintained "pitch attitude and added a little throttle" to recover from the bounced landing. The pilot reported that she bounced a second time and went off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that "there was no salvaging the landing" and that the airplane was headed directly toward a runway sign. The right landing gear impacted the runway sign as the pilot attempted to abort the landing. The airplane came to rest in a grassy area off the left side of runway 17. The reported winds were 180 degrees magnetic at 10 knots with no gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N364MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N364MA), registered now, S/N 172S8007, built 1998 (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 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8007 - Airframe hours: 4096.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Langa Air Services - Registered owner: BLP Investments, LTD. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2006 - Departed: ALN, Alton, IL - Destination: ALN, Alton, IL - Airport: ALN, St. Louis Regional Airport, runway 17, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: ALN ## 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 20070103000249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070103000249A), Jan 3, 2007: Cessna 172S, Alton/St Louis, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) After a hard landing, the student pilot attempted to arrest the bounce by adding power. The aircraft continued to bounce while veering towards the left… 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.