# NTSB CHI96LA326: Cessna 172, N65785, Chicago, IL, September 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1996, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.779335, -87.769447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7793&lon=-87.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10382/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA326 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of experience (or lack of training) in recovery from bounced landings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane approached the runway with full flaps and the engine at idle power. During touchdown, the airplane bounced into the air. The pilot said she was surprised when the airplane bounced after it touched down. The airplane touched down on the runway two more times before coming to a stop with the nosewheel detached from the nose gear fork. During a pilot interview and a review of her pilot logbook, the investigation revealed that she had not received instruction in how to recover from a 'bounced' landing. The pilot said she had never heard of a runway touchdown point or aiming point. Also, she said she didn't know if there was anything '...you can use to judge the final approach or the roundout aspect.' ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1996, at 1400 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172, N65785, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing onto runway 36 (3,904' X 150' dry asphalt) at the Merrill C. Meigs Airport, Chicago, Illinois. 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 and three passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Waukegan, Illinois, at 1330 cdt. The pilot said she flew the final approach with full flaps extended and the engine at RPM. She said she was surprised when the airplane bounced into the air after touching down on the runway. The pilot said the airplane bounced into the air two more times before coming to a stop without its nosewheel after the third touchdown. During an interview with the pilot landing procedures were discussed. She was asked if she had ever heard of a runway touchdown point. She said "No." When asked if she were familiar with the use of an aiming point during final approach the pilot said she was not. She was asked to explain how she would check the airplane's descent rate when it neared the runway and where she would begin the airplane's roundout, or flare, for landing touchdown. Her response was, "I extend my vision to the runway's end to see if my angle is correct." She explained the "angle" in the following manner: "You engage the visualized angle with your glidepath." The pilot asked, "Are you talking about final approach?" The answer, "Yes," was given by the interviewer. The pilot said, "I don't know then, I don't know if there is anything you can use to judge the final approach or the roundout aspect." While reviewing the pilot's logbook and during the discussion centered on landing it was revealed the pilot had not received dual instruction in the recovery from "bounced landings. The pilot was asked why she did not go-around after the first bounced landing. She said she wasn't sure if the go-around would work because the airplane's nose was too high. According to the pilot's logbook, she had received 13 hours of dual instruction in the Cessna 172 during February and May, 1992. After receiving her private pilot certificate she received an additional 1.6 hours of dual instruction in the Cessna 172 during March 10 and April 6, 1996. The pilot's logbook entries for the Cessna 172 instructional flights did not show instruction in go- around from a landing or recovery from a bounced landing event. The last Cessna 172 dual instructional flight was on April 6, 1996. Her total pilot-in-command time in the Cessna 172 was 2.6 hours, excluding the accident flight. Her logbook showed August 5, 1996, as her last flight before the accident flight. This flight was in a Cessna 172. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65785](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65785-2010-06-23), registration cancelled 2010-06-23, S/N 17275885, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172 - Airframe hours: 7242 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stick & Rudder Club, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 1996, 142 hours before - Departed: UGN, WAUKEGAN, IL - Destination: CGX - Airport: CGX, Merrill C Miegs, runway 36, 3,904 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 231 total, 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 19960902029829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960902029829A), Sep 2, 1996: Cessna 172P, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing until breaking off the nosewheel. Failed to initiate a timely go around. (-23) the pilot stated that a steep, power off, full… 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.