# NTSB ERA14CA109: Cessna 172S, N21670, Immokalee, FL, January 27, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 27, 2014, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.433889, -81.40139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4339&lon=-81.4014&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 June 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88743/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88743 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA109 ## 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. - [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) (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 According to the flight instructor and the student pilot, they flew from their home airport to another airport where the student pilot completed four landings without the flight instructor touching the controls. After the fourth landing, the flight instructor got out of the airplane so the student pilot could complete three solo takeoffs and landings. The first two landings were uneventful; however, according to the student pilot, just before the landing flare for the third landing, the airplane was "pushed" to the left side of the runway, "possibly by a wind gust," then landed hard. The flight instructor noted that during the approach, the airplane appeared to be slower than normal, followed by a hard landing. The main landing gear touched down first, then there was a "gallop on the nose wheel," and the airplane bounced twice before all landing gear were on the ground. The flight instructor subsequently performed a partial inspection the airplane, determined there was no damage, and the two flew it back to their home airport. During a subsequent rental, at an en route stop, another pilot noted propeller damage, and further inspection revealed firewall damage. Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies or damage to the airplane. Wind, recorded about the time of the accident, was 10 degrees from the right of runway heading, at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the flight instructor and the student pilot, they flew from their home airport to another airport where the student pilot completed four landings without the flight instructor touching the controls. After the fourth landing, the flight instructor got out of the airplane so the student pilot could complete three solo takeoffs and landings. The first two landings were uneventful; however, according to the student pilot, just before the landing flare for the third landing, the airplane was "pushed" to the left side of the runway, "possibly by a wind gust," then landed hard. The flight instructor noted that during the approach, the airplane appeared to be slower than normal, followed by a hard landing. The main landing gear touched down first, then there was a "gallop on the nose wheel," and the airplane bounced twice before all landing gear were on the ground. The flight instructor subsequently performed a partial inspection the airplane, determined there was no damage, and the two flew it back to their home airport. During a subsequent rental, at an en route stop, another pilot noted propeller damage, and further inspection revealed firewall damage. Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies or damage to the airplane. Wind, recorded about the time of the accident, was 10 degrees from the right of runway heading, at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21670](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21670), registered now, S/N 172S9709, built 2004 (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: 172S9709 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 4171 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Rexair Sales & Leasing LLC - Registered owner: Rexair Sales & Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 14, 2013, 5 hours before - Departed: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Destination: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Airport: IMM, Immokalee Regional, runway 18, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: IMM ## 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 20140127001129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140127001129A), Jan 27, 2014: Cessna 172S, Immokalee, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot was performing his third solo landing at kimm (Immokalee, Florida) runway 18. During the VFR approach, just before the final flair, a gust of… ## Other investigations on N21670 (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 ERA14CA452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA452), Sep 14, 2014: Cessna 172S (N21670), Naples, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to land due to the deteriorating weather conditions. - [NTSB ATL05CA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA153), Aug 24, 2005: Cessna 172S (N21670), Savannah, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor's inadequate supervision and failure to maintain directional control, resulting in an on ground collision with terrain. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88743. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412794&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - CFI Statement (item 2, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412795&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.