# NTSB ERA23LA213: Textron 172, N544TH, West Mifflin, PA, April 13, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 13, 2023, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: West Mifflin, PA - Coordinates: 40.354305, -79.928554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3543&lon=-79.9286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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): 107202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107202/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107202 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA213 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that at about 8 to 10 ft above the ground the flight instructor shouted “FLARE, FLARE, FLARE!” The volume and intensity of the command startled the student pilot who pulled back sharply on the yoke and the airplane stalled. The flight instructor subsequently took control of the airplane and before he could take corrective action the airplane impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The flight instructor’s account of the event was similar to the student pilot’s. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N544TH (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172 (SP) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S12257 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 4069.4 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pittsburgh Flight Training Center - Registered owner: Schreiner Air Investments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 6, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County, runway 28, 6,501 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 13, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 248 total, 72 in this make and model, 192 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 31 total, 31 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: AGC - METAR: METAR KAGC 131953Z 21007KT 10SM CLR 27/03 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP131 T02720033 ## 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 20230413002729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230413002729A), Apr 13, 2023: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, West Mifflin, PA, Substantial damage. During the final approach and landing of the flight lesson, the student pilot was on a steeper than normal approach at a slightly slower rate of speed. The CFI… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107202. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 998 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15583627&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%2011pgs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot's statements to FAA (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15583968&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilots%20statements%20to%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15583617&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15583302&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ERA23LA213-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.