# NTSB ERA21LA301: Cessna 172, N489MA, Rochester, NY, July 19, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2021, 13:02 local (17:02 UTC)
- Place: Rochester, NY · KROC Airport
- Coordinates: 43.119144, -77.671869 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1191&lon=-77.6719&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): 103556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA301
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103556/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103556
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA301

## Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive speed and improper landing flare which resulted in abnormal runway contact, porpoising, and substantial damage.

## 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; cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was too fast on his final approach to land. He bounced hard multiple times before he finally landed. He then taxied to the fixed base operator on the field. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the propeller tips, firewall, forward fuselage, and cabin floor were substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N489MA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280489
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 3762.7
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rochester Air Center
- Registered owner: Rochester Air Center
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2020, 85 hours before
- Departed: ROC, Rochester, NY
- Destination: ROC, Rochester, NY
- Airport: ROC, Frederick Douglass - Greater Rochester Intl, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 21, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 219 total, 201 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: ROC

## 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 20210719004309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210719004309A), Jul 19, 2021: Cessna 172R, Rochester, NY, Substantial damage. Airmen was practicing landings at Rochester airport. Airmen stated on approach he came in too fast and tried to save the landing by forcing the aircraft down…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103556. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12923884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12923656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13783230&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.

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