# NTSB ERA12CA098: Cessna 172P, N83PD, Schenectady, NY, December 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 1, 2011, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Schenectady, NY - Coordinates: 42.8525, -73.928886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8525&lon=-73.9289&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 February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA098 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control. ## 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: 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 · 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 After a brief local flight, the pilot returned to the departure airport. During the landing, the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced. The pilot again attempted to land the airplane; however, the airplane’s nose dropped, and the nose landing gear and propeller struck the runway, resulting in a second bounce. The airplane struck the runway again before the pilot regained control of it and taxied it to the hangar. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Factual narrative After a brief local flight, the pilot returned to the departure airport. During the landing the airplane touched down on the runway and bounced. The pilot again attempted to land the airplane, however the nose dropped and the nose landing gear and propeller struck the runway, resulting in a second bounce. The pilot subsequently regained control of the airplane after it struck the runway a third time and taxied to the hangar uneventfully. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83PD-2012-10-23), registration cancelled 2012-10-23, S/N 17274181, 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: 17274181 - Airframe hours: 12090 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Marine Flyer LLC - Registered owner: Marine Flyer LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 21, 2011 - Departed: SCH, Schenectady, NY - Destination: SCH, Schenectady, NY - Airport: SCH, Schenectady County Airport, runway 28, 4,850 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 3, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 14 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 8 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 20111201028469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111201028469A), Dec 1, 2011: Cessna 172P, Schenectady, NY, Substantial damage. On December 12, 2011, I spoke with [privacy data omitted] on my office phone at the albany FSDO. I asked, and he stated that he was the pilot of a C-172,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82456. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360136&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo of Airplane from Front Right Showing Damage to Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360137&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20from%20Front%20Right%20Showing%20Damage%20to%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.