# NTSB ERA20CA227: Cessna 172, N21585, Churchville, MD, June 19, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 19, 2020, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Churchville, MD - Coordinates: 39.568332, -76.203056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5683&lon=-76.2031&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101482/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101482 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA227 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing in gusty wind conditions, 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 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) - [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 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: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 172M, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern and had previously completed two previous successful landings while flying with his flight instructor. The flight instructor then disembarked, and the student took off for what would be his second solo flight. After one successful landing, he approached the runway for a second. His approach to final was normal and stabilized and the student transitioned to landing. Upon contact with the runway the airplane bounced and became airborne, then touched down again, but this time nosewheel first which made the airplane bounce again and became airborne. The student applied full power to go around, then hesitated, and reduced power to attempt to recover the landing. The airplane immediately descended and struck the ground hard. The student attempted to slow down by pulling back on the control wheel and simultaneously applying the brakes. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, stopped abruptly, and tipped up onto its nose. The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged during the accident. The operator reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the student pilot or flight instructor report any in their provided written statements. The student also reported that the wind gusts on the accident landing approach were higher than the previous approaches, and while on final over the runway, “…it was as if the wind had been taken out from under the wings, resulting in the accelerated decent rate.” He added that he was reluctant to pull back on the control wheel, as a stall could have resulted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21585](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21585), registered now, S/N 17263978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - 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: 17263978 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 4193.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Harford Air Services - Registered owner: CK Leasing Services LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2020, 30 hours before - Departed: 0W3, Churchville, MD - Destination: 0W3, Churchville, MD - Airport: 0W3, Harford County, runway 19, 2,856 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 37; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22.3 total, 20.3 in this make and model, 1.2 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days, 2.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: APG, 9 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 20200619009069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200619009069A), Jun 19, 2020: Cessna 172M, Churchville, MD, Substantial damage. On June 19th 2020, at approximately 1745Z a student pilot conducting solo take-offs, traffic patterns and procedures. The pilot reported that on touchdown the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101482. 13.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 12.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10008218&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - president harford air services (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10006882&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10008783&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.