# NTSB DEN07CA154: Cessna 172R, N249FS, Fort Collins, CO, August 13, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 13, 2007, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Collins, CO
- Coordinates: 40.451667, -105.011108
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4517&lon=-105.0111&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66630
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66630/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA154

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that the airplane "bounced" twice on his first attempt to land and he executed a go-around. The second attempt at landing was successful, and while taxiing the airplane to park, the student pilot "found that I could not steer the airplane using the left rudder pedal." Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled and bent.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, the solo instructional flight departed from the local airport and he practiced basic flight maneuvers for approximately 1/2 hour in the local area. During the approach for landing, the airplane "was a bit low, so I added power, pushed the nose down and got back on the glide-slope.  I touched down; there was a bounce, I added a little power to recover. There was a slight bounce again and this time I decided to add full power and do a go-around." Upon landing after the go-around, the student pilot "found that I could not steer using the left-rudder pedal." The student pilot then taxied the airplane to the ramp by utilizing the brakes. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled and bent.  The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The accident was reported to the NTSB on September 6, 2007.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N249FS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N249FS), registered now, S/N 17281249, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17281249
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Colorado Contrails Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FNL, Fort Collins, CO
- Destination: FNL, Fort Collins, CO
- Airport: FNL, Fort Collins-Loveland Municipa, runway 33

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 68 total, 56 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## 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 20070813018979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070813018979A), Aug 13, 2007: Cessna 172R, Fort Collins/L, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 13, 2007 at approximately 0945 MDT, N249FS, a Cessna model 172R experienced a hard landing on the nose wheel at Loveland ft. Collins airport…

## Other investigations on N249FS (1)

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.

- [NTSB GAA18CA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA163), Mar 11, 2018: Cessna 172 (N249FS), Bedford, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in substantial damage.

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.

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