# NTSB ERA13CA335: Cessna 172S, N121CW, New Smyrna Beach, FL, July 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 22, 2013, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Beach, FL - Coordinates: 29.053333, -80.942779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0533&lon=-80.9428&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 September 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87576/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87576 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA335 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 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) - [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 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) ## 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 he was on his first solo flight. During his first landing as he flared the airplane, it landed hard and bounced on the runway multiple times. As the student pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane, the propeller contacted the runway. The student pilot brought the airplane to a full stop, and taxied off of the active runway to his awaiting instructor to inspect the airplane. They did not see any damage, and flew the airplane back to their home base. During a maintenance inspection it was discovered that the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he was on his first solo flight. During his first landing as he flared the airplane, it landed hard and bounced on the runway multiple times. As the student pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane, the propeller contacted the runway. The student pilot brought the airplane to a full stop, and taxied off of the active runway to his awaiting instructor to inspect the airplane. They did not see any damage, and flew the airplane back to their home base. During a maintenance inspection it was discovered that the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121CW), registered now, S/N 172S8975, built 2001 (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: 172S8975 - Airframe hours: 10916 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Phoenix East Aviation - Registered owner: Bravo Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 2012, 76 hours before - Departed: DAB, Daytona Beach, FL - Destination: EVB, New Smyrna Beach, FL - Airport: EVB, New Smyrna Beach, runway 25, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: EVB ## 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 20130722015869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722015869A), Jul 22, 2013: Cessna 172S, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. After an initial go-around, student pilot on first-ever solo landing attempt porpoised the aircraft and landed hard on nose landing gear. Aircraft taxied back… ## Other investigations on N121CW (2) 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. - [NTSB ERA25LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA281), Jul 30, 2025: Cessna 172S (N121CW), Kissimmee, FL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing - [NTSB LAX05CA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA302), Sep 18, 2005: Cessna 172S (N121CW), Show Low, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's selection of a downwind runway for landing and his inadequate compensation for the strong and gusty quartering tail wind conditions, which resulted in a tail strike during landing. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87576. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Phoenix East ASAP report (item 2, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Phoenix%20East%20ASAP%20report-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA statement (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-FAA- Buckled firewall (item 4, .PDF, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA-%20Buckled%20firewall-Master.PDF - Photo 2-FAA-Close up of buckled firewall (item 5, .PDF, 640 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-FAA-Close%20up%20of%20buckled%20firewall-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.