# NTSB ERA15CA222: Cessna 172P, N6155K, Mitchellville, MD, May 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2015, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Mitchellville, MD - Coordinates: 38.944721, -76.773056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9447&lon=-76.7731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91241 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91241/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91241 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA222 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and damage to the airplane. ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane entered the downwind leg for runway 18, and he elected to use 20 degrees of flaps and a "slightly higher airspeed" due to wind gusts. While on final approach, he maintained an airspeed of 65 knots; however, the airplane floated, which prompted the pilot to perform a go-around maneuver beginning about halfway down the length of the runway. During the pilot's subsequent landing attempt, the airplane floated again; this time he lowered the nose. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear and subsequently bounced several times before coming to a stop. The pilot then taxied the airplane to the side of the runway and into the grass and secured the engine. One witness reported that the airplane, while on final approach, was "high and fast" with a nose-down attitude and landed flat. Another witness reported that the airplane landed in a nose-down attitude and bounced 4 or 5 times on the runway before coming to rest. All witnesses reported that the airplane "porpoised" after landing. Photographic evidence revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. According to the pilot, there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6155K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6155K), registered now, S/N 17274170, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274170 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 11922.1 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Freeway Airport Inc - Registered owner: Freeway Airport Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 2015, 12 hours before - Departed: N89, ELLENVILLE, NY - Destination: W00, Mitchellville, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: W00, Freeway, runway 18, 2,420 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 84 total, 84 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KCGS, 7 nm away ## 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 20150525008789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150525008789A), May 25, 2015: Cessna 172P, Bowie, MD, Substantial damage. After arriving at Freeway Airport, mitchellville, MD (woo), the pilot experienced difficulty landing the aircraft in gusty headwinds. His first landing attempt… ## Other investigations on N6155K (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 CHI83LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA181), Apr 24, 1983: Cessna 172P (N6155K), Mt. Pleasant, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91241. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flight School (item 2, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Flight%20School-Redacted.PDF - Eyewitness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Eyewitness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record – College Park Weather (item 4, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20College%20Park%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Damaged Firewall (item 5, .PDF, 588 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damaged%20Firewall-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.