# NTSB CHI98LA340: Cessna 172N, N6172D, Traverse City, MI, August 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1998, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Traverse City, MI - Coordinates: 44.759082, -85.699432 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7591&lon=-85.6994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA340 ## Probable cause the inadvertent stall/mush. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's improper compensation for the wind conditions, and his excessively high flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he performed a normal traffic pattern to a touch and go. During the landing flare, the airplane's right wing and nose rose abruptly. The pilot said that he maintained back pressure to hold the proper attitude. The airplane's nose 'dipped and encountered [the] runway surface.' The pilot said that he performed a go-around and flew another traffic pattern to a full-stop landing. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1998, at 1500 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 172N, N6172D, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during landing, the airplane touched down hard on runway 36, at Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Traverse City, Michigan, at 1415 edt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he performed a normal traffic pattern to a touch and go. During the landing flare, the airplane's right wing and nose rose abruptly. The pilot said that he maintained back pressure to hold the proper attitude. The airplane's nose "dipped and encountered [the] runway surface." The pilot said that he performed a go-around and flew another traffic pattern to a full-stop landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the Cherry Capital Airport. The tips of both propeller blades were bent aft. The engine firewall was buckled at the four attachment points for the nose gear. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6172D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6172D), registered now, S/N 17272617, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272617 - Airframe hours: 4511 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur R. Schubert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1998, 20 hours before - Departed: TVC - Airport: TVC, Cherry Capital Airport, runway 36, 5,108 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,011 total, 12 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TVC, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980815029899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980815029899A), Aug 15, 1998: Cessna 172N, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed hard which collapsed nose wheel, struck prop and dent fire wall. 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.