# NTSB CHI95LA220: Cessna 172, N6368E, Cedar Rapids, IA, July 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 1995, 09:38 local (14:38 UTC) - Place: Cedar Rapids, IA - Coordinates: 42.020915, -91.660736 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0209&lon=-91.6607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9942/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA220 ## Probable cause the pilot's lack of experience in flying from the right seat. A factor was the steep final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, WHO OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE 'SEEMED QUITE HIGH' WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 1/2 MILE OUT ON FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ON THE NOSE GEAR AND THE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SLID 375 FEET AND STOPPED 50 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. A POST IMPACT FIRE ENSUED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FLYING A FULL STOP LANDING TO RUNWAY 27. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, AT AN AIRSPEED OF 70 TO 80 MILES PER HOUR, THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY. 'THE STALL HORN DID NOT GO OFF.' HE 'FELT IT WAS AN UNCOMMANDED NOSE DOWN CONTROL INPUT.' THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FLYING FROM THE RIGHT AND LEFT SEAT AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE FLYING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT. THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE REPORTED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 1995, at 0938 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6368E, operated by Six Eight Echo, Inc., sustained substantial damage from fire, when the landing gear collapsed during landing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The private pilot reported minor injury and the pilot rated passenger reported serious injury. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated in Marion, Iowa at 0915. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who observed the accident, reported that he was in a different airplane, following the accident airplane in the pattern. He commented that the accident airplane "seemed quite high" when it was about 1/2 mile out on final approach. The airplane bounced on the nose gear and the gear collapsed. The airplane slid 375 feet and stopped 50 feet to the right of the runway centerline. A post impact fire ensued. The pilot reported that he was flying a full stop landing to runway 27. When the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway, at an airspeed of 70 to 80 miles per hour, the airplane nosed down and impacted the runway. "The stall horn did not go off." He "felt it was an uncommanded nose down control input." He flew a flight review flown from the left seat, five days after the accident. The review was "passed with no problem." He flew in the right seat and "everything repeated itself." The pilot stated that he was not aware of the "right seat condition" and could not remember being taught about it. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage reported no evidence of preimpact flight control malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6368E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6368E-2013-08-22), registration cancelled 2013-08-22, S/N 46468, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46468 - Airframe hours: 2625 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Six Eight Echo, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1995, 17 hours before - Departed: MARION, IA - Destination: CID - Airport: KCID, Cedar Rapids Muni, runway 27, 8,600 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,345 total, 10 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CID ## 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 19950714018679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950714018679A), Jul 14, 1995: Cessna 172, Cedar Rapids, IA, Substantial damage. FAA checkride, landing runway, bounced on nose gear, gear collapsed, followed by fire. (-4)a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector, who observed the… 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.