# NTSB ERA23LA036: Cessna 172, N80619, Toughkenamon, PA, October 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 21, 2022, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Toughkenamon, PA - Coordinates: 39.831834, -75.767872 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8318&lon=-75.7679&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 106184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106184/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106184 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA036 ## Probable cause The solo student pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## 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 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) - [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) ## 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 172M, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane “bounced” and that he attempted to recover but upon exiting the runway surface he pulled the yoke back resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage the left wing, engine mount, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80619](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80619), registered now, S/N 17266673 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - 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: 17266673 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5250 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: New Garden Flight Connection Inc - Registered owner: New Garden Flight Connection Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N57, New Garden Flying Field, runway 24, 3,693 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23.6 total, 22.8 in this make and model, 0.5 as pilot in command, 20.8 in the last 90 days, 2.8 in the last 30 days, 0.25 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MQS, 10 nm away - METAR: KMQS 212035Z AUTO 17004KT 9SM CLR 16/M01 A3012 RMK AO2 ## 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 20221021016919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221021016919A), Oct 21, 2022: Cessna 172M, Toughkenamon, PA, Substantial damage. On 10/21/2022, a student pilot was conducting practice solo takeoff and landings. On his second landing, the aircraft bounced several times, veered off the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106184. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14710497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20N80619_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement to FAA (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14713751&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14713899&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA23LA036-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.