# NTSB ERA14CA331: Cessna 172M, N621AA, Miami, FL, June 24, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 23, 2014, 22:30 local (Jun 24, 2014, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.647777, -80.432777
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6478&lon=-80.4328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA331
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89624/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89624
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA331

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure the security of the seat prior to flight, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Equipment/furnishings](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related maintenance info; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. She reported that during the landing flare for the final landing, her seat slid aft. The airplane ballooned and subsequently landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and cabin floor structure. The accident airplane make/model was the subject of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directive (AD) regarding seat slippage, issued three years prior to the accident. Review of the airplane's maintenance logs revealed that the airplane had received the inspections required by the AD, and examination of the seat rail and latching mechanism by an FAA inspector revealed no anomalies.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was conducting touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. She reported that during the landing flare for the final landing, her seat slid aft. The airplane ballooned and subsequently landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and cabin floor structure. The accident airplane make/model was the subject of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directive (AD) regarding seat slippage, issued three years prior to the accident. Review of the airplane's maintenance logs revealed that the airplane had received the inspections required by the AD, and examination of the seat rail and latching mechanism by an FAA inspector revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N621AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N621AA-2016-02-19), registration cancelled 2016-02-19, S/N 17265161, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265161
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 5323
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot Training Center LLC
- Registered owner: Otero Rolando
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 30, 2014
- Departed: TMB, Miami, FL
- Destination: TMB, Miami, FL
- Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami Executive, runway 27R, 5,003 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 245 total, 45 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: TMB

## 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 20140623011069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140623011069A), Jun 23, 2014: Cessna 172M, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot was doing pattern work at the airport. Completed 4 touch and go's, on the fifth one pilot stated that the seat rolled back and was forced to flare…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89624. 6.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – Conversation with FAA inspector (item 3, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20inspector-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of Airplane From Front (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Airplane%20From%20Front%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Seat Rail (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Seat%20Rail%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.

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