# NTSB ERA11CA385: Cessna 172P, N65659, Baltimore, MD, July 6, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2011, 13:12 local (17:12 UTC) - Place: Baltimore, MD - Coordinates: 39.321945, -76.408058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3219&lon=-76.4081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA385 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA385 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a bounced 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 · 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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); 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that during the fifth landing of the solo instructional flight, the airplane landed hard left of the runway centerline, bounced, touched down a second time, and departed the left side of the runway. During the roll-out in the grass, the nose wheel dug into the ground, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of photographs revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated that during the fifth landing of the solo instructional flight, the airplane landed "hard" left of the runway centerline, bounced, touched down a second time, and departed the left side of the runway. During the roll-out in the grass, the nose wheel dug into the ground, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of photographs revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65659](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65659-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 17275805, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275805 - Airframe hours: 10409 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Middle River Aviation - Registered owner: Phoenix Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2011 - Departed: MTN, Baltimore, MD - Destination: MTN, Baltimore, MD - Airport: MTN, Martin State Airport, runway 15, 6,996 × 180 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KMTN ## 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 20110706015459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110706015459A), Jul 6, 2011: Cessna 172P, Middle River, MD, Destroyed. Student pilot was on second solo and was practicing touch and go landings. On the fourth touch and go the student landed hard and went off the left side of… ## Other investigations on N65659 (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 NYC06CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA221), Sep 4, 2006: Cessna 172P (N65659), Baltimore, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81025. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 458 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo of Airplane Damage (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(FAA)-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.