# NTSB ERA24LA260: Cessna 172G, N3687L, Greensboro, NC, May 30, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 30, 2024, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Coordinates: 36, -79 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0000&lon=-79.0000&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: 3 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): 194466
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA260
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194466/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194466
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA260

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.

## 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 · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072420), [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; cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072420), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172G, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072420), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, as he began to flare for landing, the airplane started “ballooning.” The airplane subsequently landed hard, veered off the runway and struck a ditch. The nose landing gear was displaced into the engine firewall, and the underside of the forward fuselage was buckled. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3687L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3687L-2024-09-03), registration cancelled 2024-09-03, S/N 17253856, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17253856
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 6255
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-AYM 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 29, 2024, 50 hours before
- Departed: GSO, Greensboro, NC
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GSO, Piedmont Triad Intl, runway 05L/23R, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 82 total, 74 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KGSO, 46 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGSO 301854Z VRB05KT 10SM SCT055 24/10 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02390100

## 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 20240530007029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240530007029A), May 30, 2024: Cessna 172G, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot landed fast and hard; the aircraft ballooned and the pilot failed to use proper rudder control causing the aircraft to depart the left side of the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194466. 9.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17457905&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA260_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement mor (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17519391&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pic%20LA260-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17457779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Inspection%20ASI%20Chris%20Sims-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17458107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20LOG_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17458117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA260-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.

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