CHI95LA067

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Kansas City, MO · January 15, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 15, 1995, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
Place
Kansas City, MO
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N75585Cessna 172N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 9, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950115000429A
Case key
9820

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

An improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors associated with the accident were an improper airspeed and not attaining a proper descent rate by the pilot.

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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Airspeed - improperPilot in commandFactor
Proper descent rate - not attainedPilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightOther
Recovery from bounced landing - improperPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - runway
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - approach light/navaid

Analysis

The student pilot said his approach to landing was about 5 knots slower than it should have been. The airplane touched down and bounced into the air. The pilot said he applied elevator back pressure to avoid a second bounce and the airplane stalled. The pilot said he added full power when the airplane began wheelbarrowing after its second touchdown. The airplane departed the runway's edge colliding with VASI lights and groundlooping to the left. The pilot's last dual instructional entry for takeoffs and landings was made 72 days before this accident date. That entry showed 'takeoff & landings emerg. Night... .'

Factual narrative

On January 15, 1995, at 1515 central standard time (CST), a Cessna 172, N75585, registered to Phoenix Aviation of Kansas City, Missouri, and piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with the runway 19 VASI light boxes and the ground during the initial phase of a go-around at the Kansas City Downtown Airport, Kansas City, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries.

According to the pilot's statement, he "approached [the] runway at 60 IAS that is five knots below [the] recommended speed." He said he "...made an improper flare and bounced once on the main gear... ." The pilot said he applied elevator back pressure to avoid a second bounce. A result of this action, according to the pilot, was a stalled left wing. The airplane touched down on its left main landing gear tire followed by its nosewheel tire. At this point the pilot said he gave the engine full power with the intent of going around. Shortly after the airplane became airborne, its nosewheel struck a VASI light box and its left wingtip struck a second VASI light box. After striking the VASI light boxes, the airplane collided with the ground and cartwheeled to the left.

A review of the pilot's logbook revealed several dual instructional and solo entries that had "Touch & Go and Emergencies" in the remark's section. The pilot's instructor was asked what type of landing emergencies the student had been taught. He stated the student received instruction in go-arounds and recovery from bad landings.

The pilot's last 90 day solo endorsement according to 14 CFR Part 61.87 was on December 27, 1994. The logbook showed the pilot's last dual instruction in takeoffs and landings was on November 3, 1994. The entry shows "Takeoffs & landing's emergency night... ." The pilot's last flight before the accident flight was on January 8, 1995.

Aircraft

Registration
N75585
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17267828
Airframe hours
6,578
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Phoenix Aviation
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · November 19, 1994 · 47 hours before
Departed
MKC
Destination
MKC
Airport
MKC · Kansas City Downtown, runway 19, 7,001 × 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
52
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
57 total · 57 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 6 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
52 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
MKC, 1 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.