# NTSB GAA15CA046: Cessna 172S, N100PM, Naples, FL, April 19, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 19, 2015, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Naples, FL
- Coordinates: 26.1525, -81.775558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1525&lon=-81.7756&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91066
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91066/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91066
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA046

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control, resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tri-cycle landing gear equipped airplane reported a gust of wind lifted the airplane's nose during landing, which resulted in abnormal runway contact and subsequent hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, cockpit floor board, and firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tri-cycle landing gear equipped airplane reported a gust of wind lifted the airplane's nose during landing, which resulted in abnormal runway contact and subsequent hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, cockpit floor board, and firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N100PM), registered now, S/N 172S9599, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9599
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 4753.4
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2015, 335 hours before
- Departed: VNC, Venice, FL
- Destination: APF, Naples, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APF, Naples Municipal, runway 23, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 484 total, 370 in this make and model, 403.7 as pilot in command, 18.5 in the last 90 days, 8.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: APF

## 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 20150419004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150419004459A), Apr 19, 2015: Cessna 172S, Naples, FL, Substantial damage. ^Mr. Peter lynn^ stated that on Sunday April 19, 2015 he was flying N100PM a Cessna 172 at approximately 1620Z he was landing at kapf ( Naples Municipal…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91066. 8.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - KAPF Weather (item 2, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20KAPF%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Belly of Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Belly%20of%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Cockpit Floor Board (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Cockpit%20Floor%20Board%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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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