# NTSB GAA15CA140: Cessna 172 - S, N195NW, Traverse City, MI, June 25, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 25, 2015, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Coordinates: 44.743057, -85.587776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7431&lon=-85.5878&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91451/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91451
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA140

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, 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 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: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: 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

In a written statement provided by the flight instructor, the solo student pilot porpoised during the landing, came to a full stop, and taxied to the ramp. A post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall, the underside of the fuselage, and the floor under the rudder pedals. The flight instructor reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

In a written statement provided by the flight instructor, the solo student pilot porpoised during the landing, came to a full stop, and taxied to the ramp. A post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall, the underside of the fuselage, and the floor under the rudder pedals. The flight instructor reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N195NW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N195NW), registered now, S/N 172S11095, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - S (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: 172S11095
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 2383.9
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Northwestern Michigan College
- Registered owner: Northwestern Michigan College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 23, 2015
- Departed: KCAD, Cadillac, MI
- Destination: KTVC, Traverse City, MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KTVC, Cherry Capital Airport- Traver, runway 18, 5,378 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTVC

## 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 20150625008799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150625008799A), Jun 25, 2015: Cessna 172S, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. Student pilot began to porpoise on landing on runway 18 during solo cross country, landed hard on nose gear, striking prop and damaging lower firewall and…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91451. 4.1 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=40429468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 740 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Fuselage Underside (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Fuselage%20Underside%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Floor Board (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 4, .PDF, 805 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Floor%20Board%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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