# NTSB ERA22LA303: Cessna 172M, N9946Q, South Portland, ME, July 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 8, 2022, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: South Portland, ME - Coordinates: 43.644046, -70.30587 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6440&lon=-70.3059&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105440/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105440 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA303 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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 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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had previously accumulated about 40 total hours of flight experience, but the accident flight with the flight instructor was his first after having not flown for about six years. During the first approach to landing, the flight instructor directed the student to perform a touch-and-go landing. The student pilot stated that he felt “nervous” given the amount of time that had elapsed since he had last flown. The student thought that he subsequently landed the airplane hard and recalled hearing the sound of “crunching metal.” His next recollection was waking up on the runway as the airplane caught fire. The student pilot and the flight instructor were seriously injured and the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the landing and subsequent postimpact fire. Despite several attempts to contact him, the flight instructor could not be reached following the accident and did not provide a statement about the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9946Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9946Q), registered now, S/N 17265890, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - 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: 17265890 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: Unknown unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Portland Flight Services - Registered owner: Horizon Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: PWM, Portland Intl Jetport, runway 18, 6,100 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: serious; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 9,800 total, 99,999 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KPWM - METAR: KPWM 081951Z 17007KT 10SM FEW095 24/16 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP120 T02440156 ## 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 20220708011949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220708011949A), Jul 8, 2022: Cessna 172M, Portland, ME, Destroyed. N9946Q was inbound for a landing at kpwm. They were cleared for the option on RWY18. They experienced a hard landing. The nose wheel of the airplane separated… ## Other investigations on N9946Q (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 NYC89LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA117), Apr 14, 1989: Cessna 172M (N9946Q), Palmyra, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRSPEED AND DISTANCE DURING THE LANDING. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105440. 2.2 MB in all. - Memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14552928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandom-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, student pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14552172&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-student%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14553102&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.