# NTSB DEN91LA128: Cessna 172N, N2417E, Englewood, CO, August 31, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1991, 08:48 local (14:48 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.640041, -104.989112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6400&lon=-104.9891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18134
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18134/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA128

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT MISJUDGED HIS LANDING FLARE. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RELEASED BY HIS INSTRUCTOR FOR HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT.  HE MADE TWO SUCCESSFUL LANDINGS, BUT ON HIS LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND WAS DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2417E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2417E), registered now, S/N 17271274 (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: 17271274
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: P.C. Flyers
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17, 7,003 × 77 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19910831044379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910831044379A), Aug 31, 1991: Cessna 172N, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Student on first solo flight made a hard third landing. Impact caused structural damaged.

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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