# NTSB ERA13CA371: Cessna 172S, N740SP, Manassas, VA, August 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 22, 2013, 09:28 local (13:28 UTC) - Place: Manassas, VA - Coordinates: 38.80722, -77.508888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8072&lon=-77.5089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87834 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87834/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87834 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA371 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced 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) - [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) ## 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); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he was fast on the approach and touched down on the main landing gear, bounced, then released back pressure on the yoke. The airplane started to porpoise uncontrollably and the nose landing gear broke off. The airplane departed the runway to the right and came to rest inverted in the grass. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, vertical stabilizer, and to the rudder. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, he was fast on the approach and touched down on the main landing gear, bounced, then released back pressure on the yoke. The airplane started to porpoise uncontrollably and the nose landing gear broke off. The airplane departed the runway to the right and came to rest inverted in the grass. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, vertical stabilizer, and to the rudder. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N740SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N740SP), registered now, S/N 172S8671, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (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: 172S8671 - Airframe hours: 4778 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dulles Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Dulles Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 2013, 44 hours before - Departed: KHEF, Manassas, VA - Destination: KHEF, Manassas, VA - Airport: KHEF, Manassas Regional Airport, runway 16R, 3,707 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KHEF ## 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 20130822016869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130822016869A), Aug 22, 2013: Cessna 172S, Manassas, VA, Substantial damage. N740SP received substantial damage during an approach and attempted landing at Manassas airport (hef) on Thursday August 22, 2013 at approximately 0928 local… ## Other investigations on N740SP (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 ERA25LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA148), Mar 9, 2025: Cessna 172 (N740SP), Brooksville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage. - [NTSB GAA15CA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA161), Jun 10, 2015: Cessna 172S (N740SP), Galesburg, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Firewall damage reported by maintenance personnel that occurred during an unknown phase of flight, because the accident flight and pilot could not be determined. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87834. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Interview with Student Pilot. (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Interview%20with%20Student%20Pilot.-Master.PDF - FAA Damage Assessment. (item 3, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Damage%20Assessment.-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records. (item 4, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records.-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Picture of the Airplane at rest. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20the%20Airplane%20at%20rest.%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.