# NTSB ERA14CA160: Cessna 172N, N5423J, Charlottesville, VA, March 8, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 8, 2014, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Charlottesville, VA - Coordinates: 38.13972, -78.452224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1397&lon=-78.4522&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 May 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88943/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88943 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and substantial damage to the firewall. ## 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 · 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) ## 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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he established a "crab angle to track" the centerline of the runway and maintained about 70 knots on the final leg of the traffic pattern. He pulled the throttle to idle, began to flare the airplane, and the airplane touched down on the main wheels first. It became airborne again, touched down on the runway, and "bounced" a third time. Then, during the landing roll, the pilot was instructed by the air traffic controller to taxi to the ramp area. As the pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane, he realized that the nose landing gear was "rough" to handle. He notified air traffic control that he was having trouble with the landing gear, and the airplane was towed off the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport around the time of the accident was calm. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he established a "crab angle to track" the centerline of the runway and maintained about 70 knots on the final leg of the traffic pattern. He pulled the throttle to idle, began to flare the airplane, and the airplane touched down on the main wheels first. It became airborne again, touched down on the runway, and "bounced" a third time. Then, during the landing roll, the pilot was instructed by the air traffic controller to taxi to the ramp area. As the pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane, he realized that the nose landing gear was "rough" to handle. He notified air traffic control that he was having trouble with the landing gear, and the airplane was towed off the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport around the time of the accident was calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5423J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5423J), registered now, S/N 17273787, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273787 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Krist Ayre LLC - Registered owner: Krist Ayre LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CHO, Charlottesville, VA - Destination: CHO, Charlottesville, VA - Airport: CHO, Charlottesville-Albemarle, runway 21, 6,801 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 124 total, 72 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CHO ## 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 20140308003549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140308003549A), Mar 8, 2014: Cessna 172N, Charlottesville, VA, Substantial damage. While landing at cho, aircraft landed hard and this resulted in the nose wheel tire blow out and the prop striking the runway. The aircraft required a tug to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88943. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photos of Substantial Damage (Photos Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 6 photos, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411397&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20of%20Substantial%20Damage%20(Photos%20Courtesy%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.