# NTSB ERA12CA560: Cessna 172S, N9965P, Sebring, FL, September 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2012, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Sebring, FL - Coordinates: 27.456388, -81.342224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4564&lon=-81.3422&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 11, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FSS/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA560 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85021/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85021 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA560 ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during a solo flight, just prior to touchdown, he flared the airplane too high above the runway. The airplane touched down hard and bounced; however, the student pilot was able to complete the landing and did not notice any anomalies at that time. He subsequently performed another takeoff and landing uneventfully. At the conclusion of his last flight of the day, the student pilot noticed damage to the airplane. The student pilot added that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the hard landing. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and lower fuselage. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during a solo flight, just prior to touchdown, he flared the airplane too high above the runway. The airplane touched down hard and bounced; however, the student pilot was able to complete the landing and did not notice any anomalies at that time. He subsequently performed another takeoff and landing uneventfully. At the conclusion of his last flight of the day, the student pilot noticed damage to the airplane. The student pilot added that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the hard landing. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the firewall and lower fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9965P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9965P), registered now, S/N 172S10822, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10822 - Airframe hours: 2405 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tailwheels Etc. - Registered owner: Oak Ridge Flight Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2012, 45 hours before - Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Destination: SEF, Sebring, FL - Airport: SEF, Sebring Regional Airport, runway 36, 5,234 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 64; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 15 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 20120903021459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120903021459A), Sep 3, 2012: Cessna 172S, Sebring, FL, Substantial damage. 09/03/2012: 09:00LT student pilot departed lakeland airport to conduct a solo cross-country flight as part of his flight training program. The pilot… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85021. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1: Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph #2: Lower Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%232%3A%20%20Lower%20Fuselage%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.