# NTSB ERA10CA143: Cessna 172P, N106JK, Fort Pierce, FL, February 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 11, 2010, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.497499, -80.370277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4975&lon=-80.3703&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 May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75369 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75369/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75369 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA143 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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) ## 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 The student pilot stated that he was practicing touch-and-go landings prior to the accident. On his seventh landing he misjudged the flare, porpoised, and landed hard on the main landing gear. The airplane bounced and then landed on the nose gear. He applied full throttle and initiated a go-around. He returned to the airport and made an uneventful landing on another runway. Upon exiting the runway he realized that he did not have directional control of the airplane. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and forward lower fuselage. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated that he was practicing touch and go landings prior to the accident. On his seventh landing, he misjudged the flare, porpoised, and landed hard on the main landing gear. The airplane bounced and then landed on the nose gear. He applied full throttle and initiated a go-around. He returned to the airport and made an uneventful landing on another runway. Upon exiting the runway he realized that he did not have directional control of the airplane. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and forward lower fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N106JK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106JK-2013-09-27), registration cancelled 2013-09-27, S/N 17275321, built 1981 (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: 17275321 - Airframe hours: 12345 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ari Ben Aviator Inc - Registered owner: Ari Ben Aviator Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 10, 2010, 5 hours before - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: FPR, Saint Lucie County, runway 10L, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 41 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: FPR ## 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 20100211027189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100211027189A), Feb 11, 2010: Cessna 172P, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. Student performing solo short field and soft field takeoffs and 7th landing mismanaged controls performing a hard landing on mains and propoised nose over… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75369. 558 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - CFI statement (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%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. --- 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.