# NTSB ERA13CA044: Cessna 172R, N974BC, Miami, FL, October 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 20, 2012, 07:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.641944, -80.426391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6419&lon=-80.4264&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 March 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85482/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85482 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA044 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's improper power management during a steep, obstacle-clearance approach, 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 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Fuselage: gear attach fittings (on fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343/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) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating to a student pilot the technique required to land the airplane on a short runway over a 50-foot obstacle. About 50 feet over the runway, at an airspeed of 60 knots, with flaps fully deployed, the instructor reduced the throttle to idle and pitched the nose down to "increase airspeed" and flare the airplane before touchdown. Immediately after reducing the engine power to idle, the airplane "sunk," and the instructor responded with a full throttle application. However, the airplane was "too close to the ground," and the engine did not respond in time to prevent a hard landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating the technique required to land the airplane over a 50-foot obstacle to a short runway. At 50 feet over the runway, 60 knots airspeed, with flaps deployed, he reduced the throttle to idle and pitched the nose down to "increase airspeed" and flare the airplane prior to touchdown. Immediately after reducing the engine power to idle, the airplane "sunk" and the instructor responded with a full-throttle application. The airplane was "too close to the ground" and the engine did not respond in time to prevent a hard landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N974BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N974BC), registered now, S/N 17280044, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280044 - Airframe hours: 6068 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: ADF Airways - Registered owner: L & W Aircraft Investment LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 5, 2012, 85 hours before - Departed: TMB, Miami, FL - Destination: Miami, FL - Airport: TMB, Kendall Tamiami, runway 27L, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 993 total, 645 in this make and model, 906 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 49 total, 49 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: TMB ## 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 20121020023709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121020023709A), Oct 20, 2012: Cessna 172R, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Flight instructor was demonstrating a short field landing, with a simulated fifty foot obstacle over the begining of the runway (27R) when the aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85482. 3.7 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=40382187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of Damaged Firewall (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 433 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%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. --- 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.