# NTSB ERA24LA188: Cessna 172, N7921G, Stoneville, NC, April 18, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 18, 2024, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Stoneville, NC · KSIF - On Airport - Coordinates: 36.437216, -79.85101 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4372&lon=-79.8510&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): 194127 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194127/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194127 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA188 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, hard landing. ## 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 172L, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072432), [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 172L, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072432), [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 172L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072432), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot and flight instructor initially flew together on the day of the accident with the intention of practicing pattern work and landings, with the possibility of the student pilot performing her first solo flight given that the conditions were favorable. The student pilot first performed three circuits of the traffic pattern, with the instructor in the airplane, without incident. The flight instructor characterized that the student’s landings were “good,” and her patterns were consistent. The windsocks at the approach end of the runway were limp, indicating low wind. After the third landing, the flight instructor endorsed the student for solo flight and her first solo landing was uneventful. The student pilot described that when she was coming in for her second solo landing, she heard other pilots calling in over the radio saying they were on final approach to land, and she wanted to get out of the way as soon as possible. Also, during her landing, the precision approach path indicator was not on, and she had difficulty with her depth perception. She realized that she was too high and fast coming in on short final. The airplane then struck the runway and porpoised 4-times. She was subsequently unable to steer the airplane using the rudder pedals and the airplane was towed back to the ramp. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged. The operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7921G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7921G), registered now, S/N 17259621, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259621 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 4342 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Triad Aviation Academy LLC - Registered owner: Triad Aviation Academy LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 16, 2024, 47 hours before - Departed: KSIF, Stoneville, NC - Destination: SIF, Stoneville, NC - Airport: SIF, Rockingham County Nc Shiloh, runway 31, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KSIF - METAR: METAR KSIF 181755Z AUTO 26007KT 10SM CLR 28/12 A3002 ## 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 20240418004389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240418004389A), Apr 18, 2024: Cessna 172L, Reidsville, NC, Substantial damage. The student pilot was completing the second lap of solo flight. During descent for landing, the student pilot was coming too high and fast into short final.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194127. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17734977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20(Signed)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport diagram (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17734613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=KSIF%20Airport%20Diagram-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17735064&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.