# NTSB GAA15CA058: Cessna 172P, N9853L, Tamuning, April 17, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 17, 2015
- Place: Tamuning
- Coordinates: 13.483888, 144.799163 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=13.4839&lon=144.7992&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Honolulu FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91115/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91115
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA058

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that during the landing flare, he landed hard. He reported that he performed a go-around and then landed without further incident. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The operator reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during the landing flare, he landed hard. He reported that he performed a go-around and then landed without further incident. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The operator reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9853L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9853L), registered now, S/N 17276639, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P (P)
- 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: 17276639
- Year built: 1986
- Airframe hours: 19443.1
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Trend Vector Aviation Int
- Registered owner: Trend Vector Aviation Int
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 2015
- Departed: GUM, Tamuning
- Destination: GUM, Tamuning
- Airport: GUM, Guam Intl, runway 06R, 10,014 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 76; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 115 total, 115 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PGUM

## 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 20150417011729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150417011729A), Apr 17, 2015: Cessna 172P, Barrigada, GU, Substantial damage. Student solo flight, did one pattern with no issues. Second pattern flared and landed hard, executed go around and performed full stop landing. After engine…

## Other investigations on N9853L (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR12CA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA003), Oct 6, 2011: Cessna 172P (N9853L), Agana, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to avoid the jet blast while taxiing and the ground air traffic controller's failure to advise the pilot of the hazard.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91115. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Written Statement (Student Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20(Student%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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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