# NTSB GAA15CA162: Cessna 172N, N6326J, Lubbock, TX, July 3, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 3, 2015, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place: Lubbock, TX
- Coordinates: 33.653888, -101.828887 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6539&lon=-101.8289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91511/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91511
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA162

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare during landing which resulted in abnormal runway contact and damage to the firewall.

## 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 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that the airspeed was too fast during the landing flare. The airplane bounced on the nose wheel landing gear twice and the nose wheel lost air pressure. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported he should have gone around after the first bounce. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that the airspeed was too fast during the landing flare. The airplane bounced on the nose wheel landing gear twice and the nose wheel lost air pressure. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported he should have gone around after the first bounce. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6326J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6326J-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 17273864, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273864
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 14549
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hub City Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: Hub City Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2015
- Departed: SNK, SNYDER, TX
- Destination: LBB, Lubbock, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LBB, Lubbock Preston Smith Intl, runway 35L, 11,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KLBB

## 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 20150703009909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150703009909A), Jul 3, 2015: Cessna 172N, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. On July 3, 2015, at 1227, a Cessna CE-172-N aircraft bearing registration number N6326J, registered to hub city aviation inc., was operated by a student pilot…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91511. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Left side firewall damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430546&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20side%20firewall%20damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Right side firewall damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430547&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20side%20firewall%20damage%20(Courtesy%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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