# NTSB ERA11CA147: Cessna 172S, N378FA, Daytona Beach, FL, February 15, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 15, 2011, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Daytona Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 29.18, -81.058052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1800&lon=-81.0581&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 June 8, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78375/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78375
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA147

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate flare that 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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, as he approached the runway to land and crossed the temporary threshold, he configured the airplane in a level attitude. Upon touchdown, the airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced. The pilot pushed the yoke forward and the airplane bounced a second time, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, as he approached the runway to land, he leveled the airplane after it crossed the temporary threshold. The airplane impacted the runway hard and bounced. The pilot pushed the yoke forward and bounced a second time, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N378FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N378FA-2019-03-05), registration cancelled 2019-03-05, S/N 172S9378, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9378
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Daytona Aircraft Leasing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GNV, Gainesville, FL
- Destination: DAB, Daytona Beach, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DAB, Daytona Beach International, runway 07L, 10,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: DAB

## 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 20110215002769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110215002769A), Feb 15, 2011: Cessna 172S, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. During touchdown on runway 7L at Daytona Beach international airport, the student pilot of N378FA inducted "porpoise" oscillations resulting in a prop strike,…

## Other investigations on N378FA (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 MIA04CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA028), Nov 21, 2003: Cessna 172S (N378FA), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilots improper landing flare and his improper recovery from a bounced landing resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78375. 526 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Memorandum of Record (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Memorandum%20of%20Record-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports - DAB METARs (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20-%20DAB%20METARs-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.

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