# NTSB ERA11CA490: Cessna 172R, N10632, Naples, FL, September 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 14, 2011, 10:09 local (14:09 UTC) - Place: Naples, FL - Coordinates: 26.152221, -81.775558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1522&lon=-81.7756&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 December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Fort Lauderdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA490 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81793/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81793 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA490 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072401), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at the airport and completed all before-landing checks. He said that the airplane touched down hard, and he lost directional control. The airplane exited the runway, collided with an embankment and sustained substantial damage to the firewall, right wing, and right horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated he was on a solo cross-country flight. He entered the traffic pattern at his intermediate stop and completed all before landing checks. He turned on final approach for landing and flared too late, resulting in a hard landing, loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with an embankment during an attempted go-around. The airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall, right wing, and right horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10632](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10632), registered now, S/N 17281431, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281431 - Airframe hours: 2723 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Orlando Flight Training - Registered owner: N80ft Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 26, 2011, 59 hours before - Departed: ISM, Kissimmee, FL - Destination: APF, Naples, FL - Airport: APF, Naples Municipal Airport, runway 14, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 125 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: APF ## 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 20110914020649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110914020649A), Sep 14, 2011: Cessna 172R, Naples, FL, Destroyed. The pilot performed an improper flare to landing. This resulted in the aircrafts nose tire to make the first contact with the runway. The improper landing… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81793. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 338 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 Front view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Front%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Right front view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 3, .PDF, 825 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Right%20front%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 3 Right rear view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 4, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20Right%20rear%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 4 Left side view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 5, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20Left%20side%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%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.