# NTSB ERA09CA278: Cessna 172N, N500TC, Pinehurst, NC, April 24, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 24, 2009, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Pinehurst, NC
- Coordinates: 35.237499, -79.38861
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2375&lon=-79.3886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA278
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73761/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73761
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA278

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare.

## Findings

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

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that while on a solo flight during a normal approach to landing, the airplane was a "little fast" as he settled onto runway 23. The airplane bounced, and the pilot pitched the nose down to land. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall and tail tie-down. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 220 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that while on a solo flight during a normal approach to landing, the airplane was a "little fast" and settled onto runway 23. The airplane bounced, and the pilot pitched the nose down to land. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall and tail tie down. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 220 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N500TC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17268188
- Airframe hours: 5031
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Moore County Airport Authority
- Registered owner: Moore County Airport Authority
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 2009
- Departed: SOP, Pinehurst, NC
- Destination: SOP, Pinehurst, NC
- Airport: SOP, Moore County Airport, runway 23, 5,503 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 80; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: KSOP

## 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 20090424006699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090424006699A), Apr 24, 2009: Cessna 172N, Pinehurst/Sout, NC, Substantial damage. Student pilot [privacy data omitted], during his first solo flight, landed approximately 2300 past the approach end of runway 23 at ksop. [privacy data…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73761. 498 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 437 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313668&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Instructor's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313669&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Mechanic Statement (item 3, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement-Redacted.PDF

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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