# NTSB ERA12CA420: Cessna 172M, N80985, Smyrna, TN, June 27, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 27, 2012, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Smyrna, TN
- Coordinates: 35.975865, -86.514468 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9759&lon=-86.5145&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 November 7, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84113
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA420
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84113/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84113
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA420

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, 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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during the landing flare, the airplane bounced on the runway several times. The last time that the airplane bounced, the nosewheel landing gear impacted the runway, the front tire ruptured, and the propeller struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, during the landing flare the airplane bounced on the runway several times. The last time the airplane bounced, the nose wheel landing gear impacted the runway, the front tire ruptured, and the propeller struck the ground resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80985](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80985), registered now, S/N 17266826, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266826
- Airframe hours: 6598
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Myburgh Ben
- Registered owner: Myburgh Ben
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 29, 2012
- Departed: MBT, Murfreesboro, TN
- Destination: MQY, Smyrna, TN
- Airport: MQY, Smyrna Airport, runway 14, 8,048 × 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: 42 total, 20 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: MQY

## 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 20120627015619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120627015619A), Jun 27, 2012: Cessna 172M, Smyrna, TN, Substantial damage. While student pilot was practicing touch and go landings, aircraft began to porpoise. Pilot lost control and hit nose low striking the prop and nose gear hard…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84113. 621 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- MQY Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=MQY%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: View of Fuselage Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Fuselage%20Damage%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.

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