# NTSB ERA22LA021: Cessna 172P, N9522L, Kennesaw, GA, September 11, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 11, 2021, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Kennesaw, GA - Coordinates: 34.013134, -84.590997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0131&lon=-84.5910&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: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced 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 · Student/instructed pilot; 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) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; 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) ## 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 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, while on final approach, that he crossed the runway numbers, but waited “too long” to flare the airplane and landed on the main landing gear and nosewheel at the same time. The airplane bounced, and the pilot “realized that [he] had made a very hard landing.” The airplane bounced another three times before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the cockpit floor structure and engine firewall. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9522L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9522L), registered now, S/N 17276570 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276570 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 6074 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Yellow Jacket Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: Yellow Jacket Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2021 - Departed: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RYY, Cobb County Intl-Mccollum Fld, runway 09/27, 6,295 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 67 total, 67 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: RYY - METAR: METAR KRYY 112050Z VRB03KT 10SM SCT055 28/16 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP219 T02830156 56015 $= ## 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 20210911022619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210911022619A), Sep 11, 2021: Cessna 172P, Kennesaw, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on approach, on initial contact the airplane hit hard and bounced off and ballooned into the air 3 times. Severe damage to nose landing gear ,… ## Other investigations on N9522L (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 ERA23LA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA386), Sep 30, 2023: Cessna 172 (N9522L), Greensboro, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a light pole during taxi. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104131. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13059980&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N9522L_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13060009&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA22LA021-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.