# NTSB FTW95LA121: Cessna 172N, N737TC, Santa Fe, NM, February 23, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1995, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Fe, NM
- Location: 35.6171° N, 106.0894° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANTA FE RGNL (SAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6171&lon=-106.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19358
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19358/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA121

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DELAYED LANDING FLARE AND THE IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - propeller system/accessories,blade - blade strike

## Analysis

DURING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO BOUNCE AND OSCILLATE FOLLOWING TOUCHDOWN. THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER TO GO AROUND AT WHICH POINT THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY. HAVING ACCOMPLISHED THE GO-AROUND, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE YOKE WAS 'NOT RESPONSIVE' AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POST-LANDING INSPECTION REVEALED DEFORMATION OF THE FIREWALL AND THE TUNNEL STRUCTURE BEHIND THE FIREWALL, A BENT PROPELLER AND NOSE GEAR, AND DAMAGE TO THE STRINGERS NEAR THE MAIN GEAR BOX.

## Factual narrative

On February 23, 1995, at 1030 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N737TC, was substantially damaged during landing at Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The solo student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local supervised solo instructional flight.

The pilot reported that, while making a planned touch and go landing on runway 20 at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport, she "bounced the landing" and "the plane began to oscillate."  Full power was added to go around and the pilot believes that it was at this point the propeller struck the ground.  Having accomplished the go-around, the pilot noticed that the yoke was "not responsive" and landed the airplane without further incident.

Post-landing inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed deformation of the firewall and the tunnel structure behind the firewall, a bent propeller and nose gear, and damage to the stringers near the main gear box.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N737TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737TC), registered now, S/N 17269654, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17269654
- Airframe hours: 3957
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air West Aviation
- Registered owner: Schlesinger, James & Hank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 18, 1994, 68 hours before
- Departed: SAF
- Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Municipal, runway 20, 6,304 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAF

## 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 19950223002349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950223002349A), Feb 23, 1995: Cessna 172N, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing. Added power made go around. Landed. Found bent firewall propeller and nose gear.

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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