# NTSB FTW96LA104: Cessna 172N, N76067, Norman, OK, January 21, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 21, 1996, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Norman, OK
- Coordinates: 35.250801, -97.459526 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2508&lon=-97.4595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 17, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19750
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19750/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA104

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper level-off during landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

During landing, on his first solo flight, the student allowed the aircraft to porpoise.  The final touchdown was on the nose wheel which collapsed.

## Factual narrative

On January 21, 1996, at 1415 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N76067, landed hard at Max Westheimer Airport, Norman, Oklahoma.  The student solo pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  The local flight originated at 1330.

According to the Chief Pilot, this was the student's first solo flight and he became confused in the pattern and set up for landing on runway 21 rather than runway 17 which had been assigned by ATC.  When this problem was corrected, according to the chief pilot, the student's approach was fast and the aircraft bounced on landing. A porpoise ensued and the final touch down was on the nose wheel which collapsed resulting in damage to the propeller, firewall and engine mounts in addition to the nose wheel damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N76067](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76067-2020-02-03), registration cancelled 2020-02-03, S/N 17268111, 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: 17268111
- Airframe hours: 4283
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Airmen Flight School, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 21, 1995, 93 hours before
- Departed: OUN
- Airport: OUN, Max Westheimer, runway 17, 5,200 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 79 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OKC, 1 nm away

## 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 19960121000879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960121000879A), Jan 21, 1996: Cessna 172N, Norman, OK, Substantial damage. On first solo became distracted aligning for 21 in error. Bounced porpoised. Folded nose gear. High wind for solo.

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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