# NTSB DEN87LA051: Cessna 172 M, N9582V, Air Force Acade, CO, February 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1987, 14:41 local (21:41 UTC)
- Place: Air Force Acade, CO
- Location: 38.9734° N, 104.8200° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at USAF ACADEMY DAVIS AIRFIELD (AFF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9734&lon=-104.8200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17166
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17166/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA051

## 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 total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total

## Analysis

WHILE MAKING A LANDING, THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. AFTER THE THIRD BOUNCE, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9582V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9582V), registered now, S/N 17264384, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264384
- Airframe hours: 3663
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air Force Academy Aero Club
- Registered owner: Edward L Ponder
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 1986, 85 hours before
- Departed: AFF, USAF ACEDEMY, CO
- Flight plan: Military VFR
- Airport: AFF, Usaf Academy Airport, runway 16, 3,500 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 25 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: AFF

## 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 19870207003289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870207003289A), Feb 7, 1987: Cessna 172M, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. The aircraft porpoised on landing, collapsing the nose gear. Student pilot on second solo flight.

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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