# NTSB ERA14CA197: Cessna 162, N7032E, Leesburg, FL, April 11, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 11, 2014, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Coordinates: 28.8225, -81.80722
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8225&lon=-81.8072&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 21, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89056
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA197
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89056/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA197

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inadequate 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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005E), [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 162, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005E), [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 162, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, he was cleared to land and set up a "steady" approach to the runway. Then, he flared the airplane "too high," it "bounced," and then impacted the runway in a "flat" attitude. The nose landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he was cleared to land and set up a "steady" approach to the runway. Then, he flared the airplane "too high," it "bounced," and then impacted the runway in a "flat" attitude. The nose landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7032E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7032E-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N 16200090, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162
- Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 16200090
- Year built: 2011
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: CAMS Flight Inc.
- Registered owner: Skycatcher LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2013
- Departed: CGC, CRYSTAL RIVER, FL
- Destination: LEE, Leesburg, FL
- Airport: LEE, Leesburg Intl, runway 13, 6,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 73 total, 56 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: LEE

## 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 20140411005679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140411005679A), Apr 11, 2014: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. The accident pilot was on a student solo cross country flight. Upon landing at his second point of arrival (lee), he apparently flared higher than normal, and…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89056. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – LEE Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20LEE%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Airplane at Rest (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A%20-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.

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