# NTSB FTW96LA191: Cessna 172P, N5215K, Denton, TX, April 26, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1996, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Denton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.210994, -97.130386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2110&lon=-97.1304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA191
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19822/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA191

## Probable cause

the student pilot's delayed landing flare and his improper bounced landing recovery technique.

## 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, landing - roll

## Analysis

During his second solo flight, the student pilot made a bounced landing, and the airplane porpoised.  The propeller struck the pavement and the firewall sustained damage.

## Factual narrative

On April 26, 1996, approximately 0830 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N5215K, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas.  The student pilot was not injured.  The airplane was rented from Centerline Aviation, Inc., by the pilot for the instructional flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The local supervised solo flight departed Denton approximately 5 minutes before the accident.

According to the student, after completing three landings with the flight instructor on board, he departed on his second solo flight.  At the completion of his first circuit of the traffic pattern, the student "made a bounced landing" and the airplane "porpoised."  The propeller struck the pavement and the firewall sustained damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5215K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5215K-2005-05-25), registration cancelled 2005-05-25, S/N 17274015, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274015
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Centerline Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Richard L. Kummer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: DTO
- Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal, runway 35, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 101 total, 49 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19960426009189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960426009189A), Apr 26, 1996: Cessna 172P, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. Student bounced and porpoised landing. Bent prop and firewall. Indicates misuse or lack of propper trim. (-23) on April 26, 1996, at approximately 0900 CDT, a…

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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