# NTSB ERA25LA031: Cessna 172, N640MG, Louisville, KY, October 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2024, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.227984, -85.664157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2280&lon=-85.6642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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): 195413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195413/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195413 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare and control inputs, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she rented the accident airplane to gain proficiency flying from the right seat and had asked the flight instructor to sit in the left seat during the flight. While maneuvering the airplane through the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot reported making control adjustments to recover from a low and slow approach to land. She attempted to initiate a go-around, but utilizing muscle memory from flying from the left seat, she inadvertently reduced throttle and pushed the yoke forward resulting in a hard landing. The airplane bounced and the pilot applied full power, after which the flight instructor then took control of the airplane. The flight instructor flew another traffic pattern circuit and landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane’s floorboards and internal structure were later found to be substantially damaged. Both the pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N640MG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N640MG), registered now, S/N 17265248, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17265248 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 12065.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kentucky Flight Training Center, LLC - Registered owner: Whiskey Girl Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 9, 2024, 49.1 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LOU, Bowman Fld, runway 33, 3,580 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 292.3 total, 0.8 in this make and model, 215.9 as pilot in command, 6.2 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 22, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 482.4 total, 10 in this make and model, 407.4 as pilot in command, 58.8 in the last 90 days, 39.1 in the last 30 days, 0.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: LOU - METAR: KLOU 081853Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 21/02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02110022 ## 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 20241008015319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241008015319A), Oct 8, 2024: Cessna 172M, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. On Tuesday October 8, 2024, at 1930 zulu, a Cessna 172M, registered as [privacy data omitted], experienced a hard landing causing substantial damage to the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195413. 15.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 11.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18025427&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maddux%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17946156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Johnson%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email, operator (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18025137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%20Additional%20Info%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17944371&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maddux%20logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 933 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17926394&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.