# NTSB CHI07LA164: Cessna 172R, N51827, Chesterfield, MO, May 7, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2007, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.6622222222222, -90.6616666666667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6622&lon=-90.6617&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 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66071/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA164 ## Probable cause Inadequate flare during landing. The induced oscillation, not performing a go-around, the pilot's lack of experience and the failure to perform remedial action were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot stated that during a straight-in visual approach, the airplane was high, fast, and above the glide path provided by the visual approach slope indicator. The student pilot stated that he could have performed a go-around but felt pressure by air traffic control to land. He also stated that he felt pressure to comply with air traffic control instructions and to clear the airspace as quickly as possible rather than seek an alternative course of action. During the flare, the nose was lowered and the airplane began to porpoise. He stated that he didn't know what a porpoise was at the time and how to correct from it. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2007, at 1230 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N51827, operated by Skyline Aeronautics LLC as a rental/instructional airplane, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a hard landing on runway 8L (5,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), Chesterfield, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from SUS. The student pilot stated that he performed 10 touch and go landings at a nearby airport prior to returning to SUS. He was instructed and complied with air traffic control (ATC) instructions to fly a straight-in approach. He stated that the airplane was probably high and too fast, which was usually not a problem for him and elected to land anyway. He stated that he knew he was high based upon the visual approach slope indicator and could of performed a go-around but elected to continue the landing. He felt pressure to land by air traffic control to fly a straight-in approach. During the flare, he "probably dropped the yoke forward slightly," which dropped the nose resulting in the airplane bouncing. The airplane began to porpoise from which he landed after the third bounce. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he did keep the yoke back and that seemed to help. He stated that he didn't know what a porpoise was at the time and how to correct from it. He also stated that there is pressure to follow ATC directions and to clear the airspace as quickly as possible. The airplane sustained firewall damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51827](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51827), registered now, S/N 17281108, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281108 - Airframe hours: 333.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skyline Aeronautics LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: SUS, St. Louis, IL - Destination: SUS - Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St Louis, runway 08L, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.56 inHg - Observed at: SUS ## 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 20070507010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070507010839A), May 7, 2007: Cessna 172R, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was returning into the traffic pattern for landing on runway 8L and landed hard causing the propeller to strike the runway. Subsequent… ## Other investigations on N51827 (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN17CA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA140), Feb 23, 2017: Cessna 172R (N51827), Cahokia, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. 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.