# NTSB ERA10CA213: Cessna 172P, N88EP, Fort Pierce, FL, February 23, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 23, 2010, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Coordinates: 27.499273, -80.360855 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4993&lon=-80.3609&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 August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75667
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75667/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75667
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA213

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper flare and recovery from a bounced 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)
- [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)

## 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

According to the chief flight instructor, the student pilot was performing a local solo flight in the traffic pattern. The approach to landing was normal, but the student flared late and landed hard on the nose wheel. The airplane bounced several times and incurred substantial damage to the firewall.

## Factual narrative

According to the chief flight instructor, the student pilot was performing a local solo flight in the traffic pattern. The approach to landing was normal, but the student flared late and landed hard on the nosewheel. The airplane bounced several times and incurred substantial damage to the firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88EP-2019-05-06), registration cancelled 2019-05-06, S/N 17276538, built 1986 (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: 17276538
- Airframe hours: 15024
- 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 19, 2010, 8 hours before
- Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL
- Destination: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL
- Airport: FPR, St Lucie County International, runway 10R, 6,492 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.73 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).

- [Incident 20100223004899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100223004899I), Feb 23, 2010: Cessna 172P, Fort Pierce, FL, Minor damage. Counseling by CFI [privacy data omitted] CFI61.87(b) and 61.87(d) recorded by insp. Meadows and brady. Student performed hard landing damaging the nose gear…

## Other investigations on N88EP (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 ERA11CA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA284), May 3, 2011: Cessna 172P (N88EP), Stuart, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75667. 553 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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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