# NTSB ERA09LA549: Cessna 172P, N64344, Pensacola, FL, August 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2009, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Pensacola, FL - Coordinates: 30.473611, -87.186386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4736&lon=-87.1864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75069 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA549 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75069/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75069 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA549 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072436), [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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis While conducting practice landings and takeoffs, the student pilot landed hard, which resulted in a cut nose wheel, a damaged nose strut, and wrinkling of the firewall. The student pilot did not report the damage to officials from the flying club that operated the airplane. The damage was discovered during a maintenance inspection. The student pilot subsequently left the flying club and did not respond to the club's emails or telephone messages. Two other student pilots and their flight instructor confirmed that during the three previous flights, they noted no damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2009, about 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N64344, operated by the Pensacola Navy Flying Club, was substantially damaged during a landing at Pensacola Regional Airport (PNS), Pensacola, Florida. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the solo instructional flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the student pilot had intended to fly a solo cross country flight to Mobile; however, due to inclement weather there, he decided to remain in the traffic pattern at Pensacola for touch and go landings. During one of the landings, the student pilot landed hard, but did not subsequently report it to any club personnel. On August 20, 2009, damage to the airplane was discovered which included a cut nose wheel tire, a damaged nose strut, and wrinkling of the engine firewall. The damage was not reported to either the FAA or the NTSB, but came to the attention of the FAA in early November 2009, when a ferry permit was requested. According to club officials, the student pilot flew the airplane 0.5 hours on the day of the accident. During a subsequent flight in another Cessna 172, the student pilot lost control of the airplane, veering off the runway and snapping off the nose landing gear. The student pilot then left the club and was not responsive to emails or telephone calls. According to student pilots who flew the airplane the previous three flights with a flight instructor, there were no noted pre- or post-flight mechanical anomalies or damage noted with the airplane. The flight instructor for those previous three flights also confirmed no damage before or after the flights. Winds, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, were from 130 degrees true at 13 knots. It is unknown which runway was being used by the student pilot when the accident occurred; however, winds favored runway 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64344](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64344), registered now, S/N 17275548, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275548 - Airframe hours: 7977 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pensacola Navy Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Pensacola Navy Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2009 - Departed: PNS, Pensacola, FL - Destination: PNS, Pensacola, FL - Airport: PNS, Pensacola Regional Airport, runway 17, 7,004 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: PNS ## Other investigations on N64344 (1) 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 FTW91LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA116), Jul 4, 1991: Cessna 172P (N64344), Lakeview, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: (1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING AND (2) HIS SUBSEQUENT IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75069. 590 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Flying Club Safety Officer Email (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flying%20Club%20Safety%20Officer%20Email-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record; FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record;%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.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. --- 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.