# NTSB FTW98LA070: Cessna 172F, N8426U, Gonzales, LA, December 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 1997, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Gonzales, LA - Location: 30.2127° N, 90.9224° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gonzales, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2127&lon=-90.9224&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20499 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20499/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA070 ## Probable cause The inadvertent stall resulting from the flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed during his delayed recovery from the bounced landing. Factors were the student's failure to maintain the proper airspeed and the instructor's inadequate supervision during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed - improper, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - recovery from bounced landing - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis During the dual instructional flight, on short final for the 4th touch-and-go, the 'nose of the aircraft rotated downward at an altitude of approx[imately] 20-30 feet above [the] runway.' The instructor gave a verbal command to 'pull up - pull up.' However, the main wheels, followed by the nose wheel struck the runway and the aircraft bounced as the flight instructor took control of the aircraft, applied full power, and retracted the flaps. The aircraft veered uncontrollably to the left and impacted the ground. Witnesses reported that the airplane bounced hard, the nose of the airplane pitched high (15 to 20 degrees), the airplane yawed to the left, and then the airplane entered a stall/spin and struck the ground. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 1997, at 1215 central standard time, a Cessna 172F, N8426U, impacted terrain following a loss of control during a go-around maneuver at the Louisiana Regional Airport, Gonzales, Louisiana. The airplane, owned and operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot and the airline transport rated pilot/flight instructor received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight and a flight plan was not filed. During telephone conversations, conducted by the investigator-in-charge (IIC), the witness (pilot and mechanic) and the airport manager reported that the flight instructor had retired from the military and started flight instructing in civilian aircraft in 1997. Following a series of touch and go's, the airplane bounced hard during a landing. During the go-around maneuver, with flaps extended, the nose pitched high (15 to 20 degrees), the airplane yawed to the left, and then the airplane entered a stall/spin. The left wing struck the ground, the airplane bounced, and the right wing struck the ground, before the airplane came to rest upright on the landing gear. The engine was developing power during the go around. The witness and local authorities responded to the scene and called 911. The FAA inspector and the airframe representative examined the aircraft. Structural damage occurred to the elevators, wings, engine, and firewall. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The flaps were found extended to 10 degrees. Portions of the left wing were found in a ground scar 25 feet in length. The airplane came to rest 54 feet from the initial impact point. During telephone interviews, conducted by the IIC, and on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the flight instructor reported that the accident occurred during the 4th touch and go. On short final, the "nose of the aircraft rotated downward at an altitude of approx[imately] 20-30 feet above [the] runway." The instructor gave a verbal command to "pull up - pull up." However, the main wheels, followed by the nose wheel struck the runway and the aircraft bounced as the flight instructor took control of the aircraft, applied full power, and retracted the flaps. The aircraft veered uncontrollably to the left and impacted the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8426U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8426U-1998-04-08), registration cancelled 1998-04-08, S/N 17252326 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252326 - Engines: Continental O-300-D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward O. Hillman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: L38 - Airport: L38, Louisiana Regional, runway 35, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,903 total, 272 in this make and model, 3,717 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BTR ## 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 19971218039149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971218039149A), Dec 18, 1997: Cessna 172F, Gonzales, LA, Substantial damage. Student pilot and instru were making touch and go landings, acft landed hard, damaged left wing, Gonzales, LA. (.4)during the dual instructional flight, on… 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.