# NTSB ERA24LA398: Cessna 172, N371RH, St. Augustine, FL, May 17, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 17, 2024, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: St. Augustine, FL - Coordinates: 29.95925, -81.339729 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9593&lon=-81.3397&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: 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): 195263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195263/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195263 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA398 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare resulting in a hard, bounced 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: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the student pilot was on a solo flight practicing landings. Upon completing uneventful pattern work, the pilot reported executing the landing flare late, resulting in a hard landing and bounce. The pilot did not initiate abort the landing and the airplane “porpoised down the runway”. The lower fuselage of the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N371RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N371RH), registered now, S/N 172S10414, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10414 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 7020.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Florida Flyers Flight Academy - Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2024, 7.9 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SGJ, Northeast Florida Rgnl, runway 31, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: SGJ - METAR: KSGJ 170756Z AUTO 19003KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02280206 PNO $,M ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195263. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17759965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_Flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17758709&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.