# NTSB ERA14CA398: Cessna 172F, N8432U, Oxford, NC, August 14, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 14, 2014, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Oxford, NC - Coordinates: 36.361667, -78.529167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3617&lon=-78.5292&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 January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 89918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89918/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89918 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA398 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions. ## 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 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after takeoff, his passengers were uncomfortable in the "bumpy" conditions, so he returned to the departure airport for landing. He said that due to his passenger load and the crosswind conditions, the owner of the airplane advised over the radio that the pilot should perform the landing with flaps set at 10 degrees. The pilot stated that the airplane "ballooned" on the first touchdown, and that the second touchdown was "harder than normal." A witness stated that there was a direct crosswind, and the airplane touched down with then nose pointed 30 degrees right of centerline. The airplane "porpoised" and landed on the nosewheel first a number of times in succession. Inspection of the airplane after taxi and parking revealed cracking and buckling of the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall. The pilot reported, and inspection by FAA inspectors revealed, no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after takeoff, his passengers were uncomfortable in the "bumpy" conditions, so he returned to the departure airport for landing. He said that due to his passenger load and the crosswind conditions, the owner of the airplane advised over the radio that the pilot should perform the landing with flaps set at 10 degrees. The pilot stated that the airplane "ballooned" on the first touchdown, and that the second touchdown was "harder than normal." A witness stated that there was a direct crosswind, and the airplane touched down with then nose pointed 30 degrees right of centerline. The airplane "porpoised" and landed on the nosewheel first a number of times in succession. Inspection of the airplane after taxi and parking revealed cracking and buckling of the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall. The pilot reported, and inspection by FAA inspectors revealed, no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8432U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8432U), registered now, S/N 17252332, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252332 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 4835.5 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Empire Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Empire Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 2014, 18 hours before - Departed: HNZ, Oxford, NC - Destination: HNZ, Oxford, NC - Airport: HNZ, Henderson-Oxford, runway 24, 5,002 × 97 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 70 total, 708 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.46 inHg - Observed at: KHNZ ## Other investigations on N8432U (1) 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 NYC65F0125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC65F0125), Mar 27, 1965: Cessna 172F (N8432U), Ambler, PA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89918. 4.9 MB in all. - FAA Inspector Statement (item 1, .PDF, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Photo 1 View of Damage to Engine Firewall (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Photo%201%20View%20of%20Damage%20to%20Engine%20Firewall%20(FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – View of Damage to Right Wing Underside (FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20Underside%20(FAA)%0D%0A-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.