# NTSB ERA14CA452: Cessna 172S, N21670, Naples, FL, September 14, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 14, 2014, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Naples, FL - Coordinates: 26.1525, -81.775558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1525&lon=-81.7756&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 - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90136 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA452 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90136/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90136 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA452 ## 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. ## 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 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 · 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) - [Mental/emotional state: stress](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022510/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 The solo student pilot was returning to her home airport, and was on a straight-in approach to the 6,600-foot runway. At the time of the landing clearance, the tower controller reported that the weather conditions were "deteriorating rapidly" to instrument meteorological conditions, but the pilot reported the runway was in sight during the entire approach. She said she completed the approach in accordance with traffic pattern altitudes and speed, and set the flaps to 20 degrees prior to touchdown. During the landing, the airplane touched down "hard" on the main and nose landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot was returning to her home airport, and was on a straight-in approach to the 6,600-foot runway. At the time of the landing clearance, the tower controller reported that the weather conditions were "deteriorating rapidly" to instrument meteorological conditions, but the pilot reported the runway was in sight during the entire approach. She said she completed the approach in accordance with traffic pattern altitudes and speed, and set the flaps to 20 degrees prior to touchdown. During the landing, the airplane touched down "hard" on the main and nose landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.. ## 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: 3345 - 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, September 11, 2014, 5 hours before - Departed: OBE, OKEECHOBEE, FL - Destination: APF, Naples, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: APF, NAPLES Municipal, runway 23, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 63 total, 63 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: APF ## 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 20140914019099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140914019099A), Sep 14, 2014: Cessna 172S, Naples, FL, Substantial damage. On September 14, 2014 aircraft N21670 s/n 172S9709 a Cessna 172 returning to Naples from a student solo cross-country flight. Upon landing at Naples the… ## 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 ERA14CA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA109), Jan 27, 2014: Cessna 172S (N21670), Immokalee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. - [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 (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90136. 7.2 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1 Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Student Pilot and CFI Statements (item 2, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20and%20CFI%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Logbook Excerpt (item 3, .PDF, 726 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Information and Logbook Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Information%20and%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Operator Statement (item 5, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – View of Firewall Damage (FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Firewall%20Damage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – View of Airframe Buckling Beneath Pilot Station (item 7, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Airframe%20Buckling%20Beneath%20Pilot%20Station-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.