# NTSB ERA21LA032: Cessna 172N, N6158G, Williston, FL, October 13, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 13, 2020, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Williston, FL
- Coordinates: 29.354605, -82.470564
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3546&lon=-82.4706&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102199
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102199/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102199
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA032

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the airplane. With the airplane lined up on the centerline and in a controlled descent, he initiated the flare and pulled the nose up. The airplane impacted the runway and bounced, then bounced a second time before settling onto the runway. He then taxied to parking. After exiting the airplane, he noticed damage to the propeller. Further inspection revealed substantial damage to the lower structure of the fuselage and firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6158G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6158G), registered now, S/N 17273573, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273573
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 9353.7
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: CAG Aircraft Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2020, 18 hours before
- Departed: KCGC, Crystal River, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: X60, Williston Municipal, runway 5, 6,669 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 99 total, 99 in this make and model, 54 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KCGC

## 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 20201013017059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201013017059A), Oct 13, 2020: Cessna 172N, Williston, FL, Substantial damage. On October 13, 2020, at approximately 09:45 EST, N6158G, a Cessna C172 [privacy data omitted], bounced multiple times during a hard landing on runway 5 at…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102199. 6.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11756754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report_r_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 operator (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11809155&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20Operator1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11756283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11756273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.

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