- Date
- September 5, 2007, 11:31 local (15:31 UTC)
- Place
- Pontiac, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N73455Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Detroit FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070905022749A
- Case key
- 66901
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare and her improper recovery from the bounced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot inadvertently executed a hard landing on runway 9R (6,200 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). The intention of the flight was to complete three takeoffs and landings for currency. The accident occurred on the second landing. The pilot reported that she flew the approach at between 65 and 70 knots, with full flaps. She stated that the airplane "bounced a few times" during landing. She recalled trying to get the airplane out of the "continuing bounce" by applying full power and pulling back on the elevator control. She noted that the airplane began to climb, so she reduced power while continuing to apply back pressure. The airplane subsequently stopped bouncing and she taxied to the ramp. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 9R (6,200 feet by 150 feet, asphalt). The intention of the flight was to complete three take-offs and landings for currency. The accident occurred on the second landing. The pilot reported that she flew the approach at between 65 and 70 knots, with full flaps. She stated that the airplane "bounced a few times" during landing. She recalled trying to get the airplane out of the "continuing bounce" by applying full power and pulling back on the elevator control. She noted that the airplane began to climb, so she reduced power while continuing to apply back pressure. The airplane subsequently stopped bouncing and she taxied to the ramp. A post accident inspection revealed damage to the firewall, cabin floor, and lower fuselage skin. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N73455
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17267473
- Airframe hours
- 9,643
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flight 101 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2007
- Departed
- PTK · Pontiac, MI
- Airport
- PTK · Oakland-Pontiac, runway 9R, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 19
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 122 total · 46 in this make and model · 38 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- PTK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N73455 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.