# NTSB ERA20CA235: Cessna 172, N9391H, Chesapeake, VA, July 1, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2020, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Chesapeake, VA - Coordinates: 36.665, -76.321113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6650&lon=-76.3211&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): 101522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101522/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101522 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA235 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and failure to recover from the ensuing bounced landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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) ## 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he performed practice maneuvers over a field for about 20 minutes before returning to the airport to practice landings. After becoming established on final approach, the airplane touched down "on the numbers," then proceeded to bounce with ever increasing frequency and severity. The airplane departed the runway surface, the nosewheel landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he performed practice maneuvers over a field for about 20 minutes before returning to the airport to practice landings. After becoming established on final approach, the airplane touched down "on the numbers," then proceeded to bounce with ever increasing frequency and severity. The airplane departed the runway surface, the nosewheel landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9391H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9391H-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 17266134, built 1975 (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: 17266134 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9626.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Epix Services LLC, doing business as Epix Aviation - Registered owner: Sunrise Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2020, 46 hours before - Departed: CPK, Chesapeake, VA - Destination: CPK, Chesapeake, VA - Airport: CPK, Chesapeake Rgnl, runway 23, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 32.5 total, 32.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: CPK, 1 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 20200701005319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200701005319A), Jul 1, 2020: Cessna 172M, Chesapeake, VA, Substantial damage. Student pilot on solo flight came in for landing and upon touchdown, bounced, did not apply correction and continued bouncing getting progressively worse until… ## Other investigations on N9391H (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 CHI85LA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA386), Sep 21, 1985: Cessna 172 M (N9391H), Freemont, OH, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA780KT40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA780KT40), Jan 24, 1978: Cessna 172 (N9391H), Cay Verde, Burkina Faso, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101522. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot and Instructor Statements (item 2, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Instructor%20Statements-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation- Student Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation_FAA (item 4, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_FAA-Master.PDF - Photo Array_Accident Site and Damage (item 5, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array_Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage-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.