# NTSB ERA23LA259: Cessna 172, N2447B, Miami, FL, May 30, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 30, 2023, 10:07 local (14:07 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL · Runway 9L - Coordinates: 25.652919, -80.437958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6529&lon=-80.4380&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: 1 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): 192325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192325/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192325 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA259 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in substantial damage the airplane’s fuselage. ## 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: [Cessna 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight and the airplane was high on the final leg of the approach to land. He attempted to correct by reducing the engine power to idle. When he initiated the landing flare, the airplane bounced on initial touchdown and then porpoised on the runway. The underside of the fuselage sustained substantial damage during the landing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2447B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2447B), registered now, S/N 17280801, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280801 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 12068.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Silver Express Co, doing business as Flying Academy - Registered owner: Silver Express Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 21, 2023, 66.9 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TMB, Miami Exec, runway 9L, 5,003 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 30.8 total, 30.8 in this make and model, 30.8 in the last 90 days, 30.8 in the last 30 days, 1.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: TMB, 1 nm away - METAR: KTMB 301353Z 06008KT 10SM CLR 29/23 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP118 T02940233 ## 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 20230530005779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230530005779A), May 30, 2023: Cessna 172R, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. On may 30, 2023, at 10:11 a 1999 Cessna CE-172-R single engine airplane bearing [privacy data omitted] received substantial damage. Following a hard landing on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192325. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15717068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Electronically%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15724373&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA23LA259%20Photo%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.