# NTSB DFW08CA151: Cessna CE-172M, N1281U, San Antonio, TX, May 18, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 18, 2008, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: San Antonio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.533611, -98.469718
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5336&lon=-98.4697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68066
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68066/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA151

## Probable cause

The student pilots improper short field landing procedure and excessive rate of descent. A contributing factor was the student pilots improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated on the pilot operator report that she was 1,000 feet above the runway and three miles out on a straight in approach to a 5,000 foot long runway when she decided to make a short field landing. The pilot "heard a pop sound" when the nose wheel touched on the first impact and the airplane bounced two more times before landing. The hard landing caused structural damage to the wing spar and to the nose gear and firewall. The student pilot was unable to taxi because of the blown nose tire.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated on the pilot operator report that she was 1,000 feet above the runway and three miles out on a straight in approach to a 5,000 foot long runway when she decided to make a short field landing. The pilot "heard a pop sound" when the nose wheel touched on the first impact and the airplane bounced two more times before landing. The hard landing caused structural damage to the wing spar and to the nose gear and firewall. The student pilot was unable to taxi because of the blown nose tire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1281U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1281U-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 17266976, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna CE-172M
- 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: 17266976
- Airframe hours: 13728
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Wright Flyers Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Wright Flyers Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2008, 71 hours before
- Departed: SAT, San Antonio, TX
- Airport: SAT, San Antonio Intl, runway 30R, 5,519 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 85 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: KSAT

## 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 20080518839329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080518839329A), May 18, 2008: Cessna 172M, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) During a solo flight, N12811U, CE-172M approached sat runway 30R at a hight altitude sat ATC had cleared N1281U for straight in approach to land. 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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