# NTSB ERA14CA081: Cessna 172N, N2854E, Farmingdale, NJ, December 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 13, 2013, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NJ - Coordinates: 40.185276, -74.121391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1853&lon=-74.1214&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 February 4, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88608 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88608/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88608 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA081 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard 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 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was landing at his destination airport. He reported that when the airplane was over the runway numbers, he reduced engine power to idle to prepare for landing. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane bounced two additional times before coming to rest on the runway with a blown nose landing gear tire. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal flight. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was landing at his destination airport. He reported that when the airplane was over the runway numbers, he reduced engine power to idle to prepare for landing. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airplane bounced two additional times before coming to rest on the runway with a blown nose landing gear tire. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2854E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2854E-2014-10-15), registration cancelled 2014-10-15, S/N 17271345, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271345 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6391 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2013 - Departed: 3N6, OLD BRIDGE, NJ - Destination: BLM, BELMAR/FARMINGDALE, NJ - Airport: BLM, Monmouth Executive, runway 32, 7,371 × 85 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 7, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: BLM ## 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 20131213025409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131213025409A), Dec 13, 2013: Cessna 172N, Wall Township, NJ, Substantial damage. On December 13, 2013 at approximately 1130L, N2854E, a Cessna 172 struck its propeller landing on runway 32 at the allaire airport. The pilot in command was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88608. 8.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record, FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record,%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photograph #1: View of Accident Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%231%3A%20View%20of%20Accident%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph #2: View of Engine Firewall (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%232%3A%20View%20of%20Engine%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.