# NTSB ERA12CA579: Cessna 172P, N53720, Richmond, KY, September 25, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 25, 2012, 09:06 local (13:06 UTC)
- Place: Richmond, KY
- Coordinates: 37.625, -84.32611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6250&lon=-84.3261&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA579
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85150/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85150
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA579

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student.

## 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 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: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, while conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings with a student pilot, they made a “stabilized” approach to the runway with an increase in engine power due to a strong headwind. The student pilot flared the airplane high, and the airplane descended rapidly. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and added full engine power, but the airplane subsequently impacted the runway. The instructor continued with another takeoff, they flew around the pattern, and the student pilot made a full-stop landing and taxied back to the hangar. The instructor asked maintenance personnel to check the airplane before the next scheduled flight. The postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall incurred substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, while conducting touch and go takeoffs and landings with a student pilot, they made a “stabilized” approach to the runway with an increase in engine power due to a strong headwind. The student pilot flared the airplane “high,” and the airplane descended rapidly. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, added full engine power, but the airplane subsequently impacted the runway. Then, flight instructor continued with another takeoff, they flew around the pattern, the student pilot made a full stop landing, taxied back to the hangar and the instructor pilot asked maintenance personnel to check the airplane before the next scheduled flight. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall incurred substantial damage. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53720](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53720), registered now, S/N 17274807, built 1981 (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: 17274807
- Airframe hours: 9810
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eastern Kentucky University
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2012, 96 hours before
- Departed: I39, Richmond, KY
- Destination: I39, Richmond, KY
- Airport: I39, Madison, runway 18, 4,404 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 3,300 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; seat: left; flight hours: 9 total, 9 in this make and model
- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: I39, 1 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 20120925022289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120925022289A), Sep 25, 2012: Cessna 172P, Richmond, KY, Substantial damage. Cessna N53720 model 172P was being operated as an instructional flight for 141 school okzs performing touch and go's at the Richmond Madison County Airport I39…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85150. 2.9 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120. (item 1, .PDF, 383 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.-Redacted.PDF
- Instructor / Student Pilot's statements. (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20%2F%20Student%20Pilot%27s%20statements.-Redacted.PDF
- Flight School mechanic's initial inspection report. (item 3, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20School%20mechanic%27s%20initial%20inspection%20report.-Master.PDF
- I39 Metar report. (item 4, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=I39%20Metar%20report.-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Firewall left side forward looking aft. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Firewall%20left%20side%20forward%20looking%20aft.%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Lower left engine mount attachment (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Lower%20left%20engine%20mount%20attachment%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Damaged Firewall (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Damaged%20Firewall%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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