# NTSB GAA15CA179: Cessna 172R, N178AF, Addison, TX, June 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 6, 2015, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Addison, TX - Coordinates: 32.968055, -96.836112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9681&lon=-96.8361&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 August 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91553/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91553 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA179 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing touchdown, 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 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that during the first landing touchdown, the airplane porpoised, and she elected to abort the landing. She reported that during the second landing touchdown at a different airport, the airplane "started to bounce very hard." A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and to the floor panels underneath the rudder pedals. The student pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during the first landing touchdown, the airplane porpoised, and she elected to abort the landing. She reported that during the second landing touchdown at a different airport, the airplane "started to bounce very hard." A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and to the floor panels underneath the rudder pedals. The student pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N178AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N178AF), registered now, S/N 17281177, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281177 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 10172.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 29, 2015 - Departed: SLR, SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX - Destination: ADS, Addison, TX - Airport: ADS, Addison, runway 33, 7,203 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 54 total, 54 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 13 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KADS ## 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 20150606010179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150606010179A), Jun 6, 2015: Cessna 172R, Addison, TX, Substantial damage. On June 6th 2015 the pilot was completing a training solo cross country flight in aircraft N178AF. After 2 successful landings at sulfer springs, she attempted… ## Other investigations on N178AF (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 ERA09CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA110), Dec 27, 2008: Cessna 172R (N178AF), Morristown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to execute a missed approach when insufficient runway remained for landing. Contributing to the accident were the low ceiling and visibility conditions. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91553. 15.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Firewall%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left Floor Board (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Floor%20Board%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Right Floor Board (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Right%20Floor%20Board%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. --- 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.