# NTSB ERA23LA017: Cessna 172, N455ER, Sanford, FL, October 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2022, 06:45 local (10:45 UTC) - Place: Sanford, FL - Coordinates: 28.778643, -81.234689 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7786&lon=-81.2347&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: 2 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): 106116 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106116/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106116 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's unstable approach, which resulted in a hard landing and impact with a runway threshold light. Also causal was the flight instructor’s failure to take remedial action to prevent the hard landing. ## 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 172S, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) ## 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) ## Analysis The pilot under instruction was flying a practice power-off 180° maneuver from the downwind leg at the accident airport. The flight instructor stated that on final approach the airplane’s airspeed was slow and the flight path was low. He stated that since the purpose of the flight was to evaluate student’s piloting skills, he allowed the approach to proceed and did not tell the student to add power or go around. The airplane landed firmly at the runway threshold and the horizontal stabilizer impacted a runway threshold light. Postaccident examination revealed that the horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that a go-around maneuver should have been initiated when the approach became unstable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N455ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N455ER-2023-10-18), registration cancelled 2023-10-18, S/N 172S11591, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - 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: 172S11591 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 6662.1 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc - Registered owner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 9, 2022, 75.5 hours before - Departed: DAB, Daytona Beach, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SFB, Orlando Sanford Intl, runway 27R, 11,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 14, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 912 total, 893 in this make and model, 824 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 25; injuries: unknown; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 167 total, 167 in this make and model, 84 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: SFB - METAR: KSFB 041053Z 33006KT 10SM CLR 18/16 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP150 T01780161 ## 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 20221004018909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221004018909A), Oct 4, 2022: Cessna 172S, Sanford, FL, Substantial damage. Evaluation flight for a commercial pilot applicant power off 180S, on first attempt (ksfb 27R) pilot under instruction (pui) began to pitch up on short final… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106116. 2.8 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=14641515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - injury clarification (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14641554&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Injuries-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - instructor response to unstable approach (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14780906&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Instructor%20Remedial%20Actions-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14641021&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. --- 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.