# NTSB ERA10CA241: Cessna 172P, N51231, Wurtsboro, NY, April 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 24, 2010, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Wurtsboro, NY - Coordinates: 41.591388, -74.455001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5914&lon=-74.4550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - 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): 75837 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75837/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75837 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA241 ## 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) - [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he departed from the airport and was performing supervised solo takeoffs and landings. During the first landing, the airplane impacted the runway with the nose landing gear first and bounced several times; he subsequently initiated a go-around and landed again uneventfully. The student pilot's flight instructor, who witnessed the event, stated that the accident was "a matter of judgment call and inexperience." While putting the airplane away, the student pilot and his flight instructor noticed damage to the nose landing gear and the propeller. An inspection performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the student pilot and his flight instructor. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he departed from the airport and was performing supervised solo takeoffs and landings. During the first landing, the airplane impacted the runway with the nose landing gear first and bounced several times; he subsequently initiated a go-around and landed again uneventfully. The student pilot's flight instructor, who witnessed the event, stated that the accident was "a matter of judgment call and inexperience." While putting the airplane away, the student pilot and his flight instructor noticed damage to the nose landing gear and the propeller. An inspection performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the student pilot and his flight instructor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51231](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51231-2012-09-17), registration cancelled 2012-09-17, S/N 17274284, built 1980 (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: 17274284 - Airframe hours: 4364 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Waco Transport Business Trust - Registered owner: Waco Transport Business Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 11, 2010 - Departed: N82, Wurtsboro, NY - Destination: N82, Wurtsboro, NY - Airport: N82, Wurtsboro-Sullivan County, runway 23, 3,592 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 22 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MGJ, 10 nm away ## 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 20100424033269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100424033269A), Apr 24, 2010: Cessna 172P, Wurtsboro, NY, Substantial damage. The student pilot was on his second supervised solo. On the first approach to landing, the student failed to flare the plane, and landed nose wheel first. The… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75837. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 663 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Interview Summary (item 4, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Damage To The Firewall (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 988 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damage%20To%20The%20Firewall%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Additional Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 621 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20%20Additional%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.