# NTSB FTW97LA318: Cessna 175, N7518M, Rock Springs, WY, August 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 1997, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.589157, -109.219627 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5892&lon=-109.2196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA318 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA318 ## Probable cause The delayed landing flare by both student pilot and flight instructor, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student. Factors were the no flap steep approach at low airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - descent - excessive, dual student (contributing factor) - airspeed - low, dual student (contributing factor) - lowering of flaps - not performed, dual student (contributing factor) - flare - delayed, flightcrew (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing touch and go landings with an instructor. He made a no-flap, steep landing approach at low airspeed. He was slow in flaring the airplane. The instructor took control, but not before the airplane made a hard landing. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 1997, approximately 0630 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 175, N7518M, was substantially damaged during landing at Rock Springs, Wyoming. The commercial rated-flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Rock Springs approximately 0610. In a telephone interview, the pilot said he had been having trouble with landings, and he asked the instructor to give him additional dual instruction. They were practicing touch and go landings. The first landing went without incident. The second landing was to be a no-flap landing. The pilot said his approach was "steep and slow." He was slow in flaring the airplane, and the instructor took control but not before the airplane made a hard landing. In his accident report, the pilot said he reduced power at 500 feet agl (above ground level) when it appeared the landing was assured. Approximately 30 feet agl, the instructor applied full power "to compensate for steep approach and no flare." As the airplane responded to the power increase, the pilot abruptly initiated a flare and entered an accelerated stall. The airplane contacted the ground at a steep angle, bounced, touched down again, and made a "normal" landing roll. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. aircraft damage consisted of a bent right main landing gear, buckled nose landing gear, and firewall damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7518M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7518M), registered now, S/N 55818, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55818 - Airframe hours: 2760 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wayne Yedinak/Pam Willey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 6, 1997, 31 hours before - Departed: RKS - Destination: RKS - Airport: RKS, Rock Springs-Sweetwater, runway 21, 5,223 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,437 total, 29 in this make and model, 1,310 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RKS ## 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 19970818025859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970818025859A), Aug 18, 1997: Cessna 175, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. (.4) The student pilot was practicing touch and go landings with an instructor. He made a no-flap, steep landing approach at low airspeed. He was slow in… 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.