# NTSB ERA22LA065: Cessna 172S, N61237, Palm Coast, FL, November 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2021, 10:13 UTC - Place: Palm Coast, FL - Coordinates: 29.467205, -81.200215 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4672&lon=-81.2002&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): 104269 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104269/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104269 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA065 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage to the lower fuselage and firewall. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported turning base to final and noticed birds in front of the airplane; she avoided the birds and lined the airplane up on the runway centerline. The pilot stated that during the landing flare the airplane “began to balloon” and she reduced power and back pressure. The airplane continued to balloon as it “became out of my control.” The airplane bounced several times, striking the runway hard before coming to rest on the runway, resulting in substantial damage the cockpit floor structure and 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: [N61237](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61237), registered now, S/N 172S10674, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10674 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 7790 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Phoenix East Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Phoenix East Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 6, 2021 - Departed: DAB, Daytona Bch, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FIN, Flagler Exec, runway 11/29, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 41 total, 41 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: FIN - METAR: KFIN 141550Z 34004KT 10SM CLR 17/11 A3009 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104269. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13000097&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N61237_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 410 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13000423&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12999192&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA22LA065-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.