# NTSB ERA11CA283: Cessna 172P, N5460K, Fort Pierce, FL, May 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2011, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.491666, -80.370277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4917&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 August 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79043 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79043/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79043 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA283 ## 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 · Not attained/maintained (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 According to the student pilot, who was on his third solo flight, the airplane was stable on the final leg of the traffic pattern. He increased the pitch of the airplane and began to flare when the stall warning horn sounded. The student pilot then released the back pressure on the yoke to decrease pitch before the airplane impacted the runway, causing the nosewheel to bounce and buckle and the right rudder pedal to jam to the right. The airplane then veered off the right side of the runway, coming to rest in a grass apron. During the accident sequence the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no preexisting anomalies with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, during his third solo flight, the airplane was stable on the final leg of the traffic pattern. He increased the pitch of the airplane and began to flare when the stall warning horn sounded. The student pilot then released the back pressure on the yoke to decrease pitch, the airplane impacted the runway, and the nose wheel "bounced heavily." After the airplane bounced heavily, the nosewheel buckled and the right rudder pedal jammed to the right. The airplane then veered off to the right side of the runway, coming to rest in a grass apron. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no preexisting anomalies of the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5460K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5460K-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 17274126, 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: 17274126 - Airframe hours: 13991 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: European Flight Training - Registered owner: Ari Ben Aviator Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: FPR, St. Lucie County International, runway 10, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 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 20110503007199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110503007199A), May 3, 2011: Cessna 172P, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot, on landing lost control of the aircraft, committed a hard landing and broke the steering control linkage, the nose gear bracket, bent the firewall,… ## Other investigations on N5460K (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 ERA10CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA208), Mar 1, 2010: Cessna 172P (N5460K), Ft. Pierce, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, resulting in a hard landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79043. 797 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - FPR Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FPR%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photograph 1: Damaged Nose Landing Gear (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348544&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Damaged%20Nose%20Landing%20Gear%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.