# NTSB FTW96LA256: Cessna R172K, N3814V, Watkins, CO, June 14, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 14, 1996, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.750137, -104.599349 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7501&lon=-104.5993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19869
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA256
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19869/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA256

## Probable cause

an improper flare by the pilot, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot had a total flight time of about 87 hours. About 17 hours of this flight time was in a Cessna R172K, all of which was dual flight time. On 6/14/96, the student took off on his first solo flight in the Cessna R172K. During his first solo landing in the R172K, the airplane landed hard and was damaged.

## Factual narrative

On June 14, 1996, at 1000 mountain daylight time a Cessna R172K, N3814V, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado.  The solo student pilot was not injured.  The flight was operating as a local area instructional flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.   Takeoff for the flight occurred at 0915.

According to the student, who was on his first solo flight in the Cessna R172K aircraft, he became distracted by a radio call from another aircraft.  He said his landing was hard, but he did not realize he had damaged the aircraft until he parked at the ramp and the flight instructor noticed the propeller tips missing.  Other damage was to the fire wall, cabin floor, nose landing gear assembly, and flight control system.  This was the pilot's first solo landing in this make and model aircraft.

Weather at the time, as estimated by the pilot, was clear skies with wind from 300 degrees magnetic at 4 knots.  The landing was conducted on runway 35.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3814V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3814V), registered now, S/N R1722264, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R1722264
- Airframe hours: 3875
- Engines: Continental IO-360-K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aurora Aircraft, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 25, 1996
- Departed: FTG
- Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 35, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total, 17 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Observed at: FTG, 2 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 19960614014169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960614014169A), Jun 14, 1996: Cessna R172K, Watkins, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot made a hard landing upon termination of first solo flight.

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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