# NTSB DFW06CA030: Cessna 172N, N5437J, Arlington, TX, November 9, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2005, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, TX
- Coordinates: 32.658054, -97.089721
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6581&lon=-97.0897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA030

## Probable cause

The students improper recovery from a bounced landing.  A contributing factor was the pilots excessive airspeed on final approach.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The 47-hour student pilot was on her first supervised solo flight.  While on the downwind leg for Runway 16, she observed another aircraft ahead on downwind.  The student pilot elected to extend her downwind to provide additional spacing with the other aircraft in the traffic pattern.  The pilot reported that while on final approach she noted she was too high and the airspeed was excessive.   The airplane porpoised after initial touchdown.  The pilot compensated by pushing the nose forward causing the airplane to land hard on the nose wheel.  The nose strut impacted the runway with enough force to cause structural damage to the engine firewall.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction prior to the mishap.  The winds at the time of the accident were reported as variable at 4 knots.

## Factual narrative

The 47-hour student pilot was on her first supervised solo flight.  While on the downwind leg for Runway 16, she observed another aircraft ahead on downwind.  The student pilot elected to extend her downwind to provide additional spacing with the other aircraft in the traffic pattern.  The pilot reported that while on final approach she noted she was too high and the airspeed was excessive.   The airplane encountered porpoise after initial touchdown.  The pilot compensated by pushing the nose forward causing the airplane to land hard on the nose wheel.  The nose strut impacted the runway with enough force to cause structural damage to the engine firewall.  The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunction prior to the mishap.  The winds at the time of the accident were reported as variable at 4 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5437J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5437J), registered now, S/N 17273794, built 1980 (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: 17273794
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Delta Aeronautics Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GKY, Arlington, TX
- Destination: Arlington, TX
- Airport: GKY, Arlington Municipal Airport, runway 16, 6,080 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg

## 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 20051109030209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051109030209A), Nov 9, 2005: Cessna 172N, Arlington, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 9, 2005, a Cessna CE-172-N, N5437J, sustained substantial damage upon landing at Arlington Municipal Airport, (gky) Arlington, TX. The…

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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