# NTSB FTW00LA148: Cessna 172H, N2440L, Mesquite, TX, May 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2000, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Mesquite, TX - Coordinates: 32.759059, -96.589134 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7591&lon=-96.5891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49237/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA148 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis During one of a series of touch-and-go landings, the student pilot 'landed a bit hard,' the airplane bounced and the flight instructor applied full power. However, 'there was not enough airspeed to stop the sink rate.' The airplane touched down again and 'hit hard on the left main gear, then on the nose wheel.' The flight instructor executed a go-around and continued the flight to the departure airport where he landed the airplane without further incident. The firewall was structurally damaged. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2000, at 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H single-engine airplane, N2440L, was substantially damaged during a touch and go landing at the Mesquite Metro Airport near Mesquite, Texas. The certificated flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The airplane was owned by Superior Software Solutions, Inc., of Plano, Texas, and operated by the North Texas Flying Club of Plano, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from the McKinney Airport, McKinney, Texas, approximately 0920. According to the flight instructor and student pilot, the wind conditions on departure at McKinney Municipal Airport were "light and variable." The student pilot was executing touch-and-go landings on runway 35 at the Mesquite Metro Airport. During these landings, the wind increased, with occasional gusts up to 15 knots. During the accident touch-and-go landing, the student pilot "landed a bit hard, and the airplane bounced." The flight instructor took over the controls of the airplane and applied full power; however, "there was not enough airspeed to stop the sink rate." The airplane touched down again and "hit hard on the left main gear, then on the nose wheel." The flight instructor executed a go-around, continued the flight to McKinney Municipal Airport and landed without further incident. The flight instructor and student pilot conducted a post flight examination, particularly of the nose wheel, strut, and shimmy damper, and no damage was noted at that time. However, on May 15, 2000, a different flight instructor reported the airplane's firewall was damaged. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and verified that the firewall was structurally damaged. At 0953, the weather at Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Texas, (approximately 33 nautical miles northwest of the accident site) was reported as wind from 020 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statue miles, sky clear, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 43 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter setting 30.18 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2440L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2440L), registered now, S/N 17255640, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255640 - Airframe hours: 3795 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: North Texas Flying Club - Registered owner: Supervisor Software Solutions - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2000, 42 hours before - Departed: T31, MCKINNEY, TX - Airport: HQZ, Mesquite Metro, runway 35, 5,999 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,407 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,220 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20000513006829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000513006829A), May 13, 2000: Cessna 172H, Mesquite, TX, No damage. (-23) Explaination of block 35. Aircraft was flown from the accidnet location of khqz to ktki prior to FAA notification. FAA "on scene" was limited to… ## Other investigations on N2440L (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW97LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA050), Nov 27, 1996: Cessna 172H (N2440L), Hammond, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight, resulting in the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. 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.