# NTSB ERA23LA074: Textron 172, N407MD, Newnan, GA, November 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 22, 2022, 09:45, time zone not recorded - Place: Newnan, GA - Coordinates: 33.311566, -84.769755 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3116&lon=-84.7698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - 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): 106379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106379/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106379 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA074 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action during a simulated engine failure and low approach, which resulted in a collision with a runway light. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while on a downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, abeam the runway numbers, he simulated an engine failure for the student pilot. The student pilot performed checklist items, but the airplane was getting too low and far from the runway. The flight instructor then told him to turn directly toward the runway, which he did. The student pilot stated that he wanted to go-around, but the flight instructor said to keep going. By the time the flight instructor realized the airplane was not going to reach the runway threshold, he increased power, but the tail struck a runway light. The airplane subsequently landed uneventfully. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that the empennage had been substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N407MD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N407MD), registered now, S/N 172S12764, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172 (S) - Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S12764 - Year built: 2021 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flyt Aviation - Registered owner: 9k Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FFC, Atlanta, GA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CCO, Newnan Coweta County Airport, runway 33, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review August 11, 2022; seat: right; flight hours: 1,413 total, 918 in this make and model, 1,319 as pilot in command, 326 in the last 90 days, 142 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: none; student; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: CCO - METAR: METAR KCCO 221435Z AUTO 03004KT 10SM OVC120 09/M04 A3039 ## 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 20221122022569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221122022569A), Nov 22, 2022: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Newnan, GA, Substantial damage. On November 22, 2022, [privacy data omitted], a Cessna 172S operating on a training flight under FAR part 91, sustained substaintial damage during approach to… ## Other investigations on N407MD (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 ERA26LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA103), Jan 28, 2026: Cessna 172 (N407MD), Atlanta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106379. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14798107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14797952&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14798216&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.