# NTSB CHI83LA322: Cessna 172, N78145, Alpena, MI, July 12, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1983, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Alpena, MI
- Coordinates: 45.069892, -83.429039 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0699&lon=-83.4290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12270
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA322
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12270/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA322

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A LANDING, THE STUDENT PLT DID NOT USE THE FLAPS AS HE WAS TAUGHT. AS A RESULT, THE LANDING OCCURRED FURTHER DOWN THE RWY & AT A HIGHER SPEED. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED, THEN TOUCHED DOWN NOSE 1ST & BOUNCED 2 MORE TIMES. THE STUDENT FOUND THAT THE ELEVATOR & AILERON CONTROLS WERE BINDING & REQUESTED TO TAXI BACK TO THE RAMP. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN UP & BACK, CAUSING THE CONTROLS TO BIND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N78145 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257501
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michigan Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: APN, Phelps-Collins, runway 30, 5,030 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APN

## 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 19830712033799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830712033799A), Jul 12, 1983: Cessna 172K, Alpena, MI, Substantial damage. Student pilot made hard landing causing aicraft to land on nose wheel.

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.