# NTSB DEN88LA174: Cessna 172M, N5266J, Gillette, WY, July 25, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1988, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Gillette, WY
- Coordinates: 44.460712, -105.700386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4607&lon=-105.7004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17518/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA174

## 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)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS COMPLETING HIS FIRST SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. ON THE THIRD BOUNCE, THE NOSE WHEEL FORK FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TURNED 180 DEG TO THE LEFT & CAME TO REST ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY WITH STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL & AIRFRAME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5266J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5266J-2008-03-18), registration cancelled 2008-03-18, S/N 17273749, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- 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: 17273749
- Airframe hours: 2071
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Guy D. Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1988, 85 hours before
- Departed: EGS, NEWCASTLE, WY
- Destination: GCC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GCC, Gillette Campbell County, runway 16, 7,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## 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 19880725063019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880725063019A), Jul 25, 1988: Cessna 172N, Gillette, WY, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on landing. Impact broke off the nose wheel fork. Aircraft skidded, more 180 before stopping.

## Other investigations on N5266J (2)

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 DEN99LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA106), Jun 18, 1999: Cessna 172N (N5266J), Platteville, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot misjudging the flare altitude, resulting in a hard landing, and his subsequent loss of aircraft control. A factor was overload forces collapsing the nose landing gear assembly.
- [NTSB DEN82DA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA083), May 10, 1982: Cessna 172 (N5266J), Sturgis, SD, 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.

---
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.