# NTSB GAA15CA208: Cessna 172R, N133VU, North Vernon, IN, July 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 22, 2015, 22:00 local (Jul 23, 2015, 02:00 UTC) - Place: North Vernon, IN - Coordinates: 39.044998, -85.603614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0450&lon=-85.6036&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 Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91692/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91692 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA208 ## Probable cause The 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 · 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 pilot reported that during the landing touchdown at night, she underestimated how high she was. She reported that the airplane landed on the main landing gear, "bounced back up," then landed on the nose landing gear, and that "it was a hard landing, bouncing a couple of times." A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing touchdown at night, she underestimated how high she was. She reported that the airplane landed on the main landing gear, "bounced back up," then landed on the nose landing gear, and that "it was a hard landing, bouncing a couple of times." A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N133VU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N133VU), registered now, S/N 17281190, 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 TIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-360-series) (registry code 41572, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281190 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 4191.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Vincennes University - Registered owner: Vincennes University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 2015 - Departed: EYE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Destination: OVO, North Vernon, IN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OVO, North Vernon, runway 05, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KBAK, 19 nm away ## 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 20150722011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150722011849A), Jul 22, 2015: Cessna 172R, North Vernon, IN, Substantial damage. On July 22, 2015, at approximately 2200 eastern daylight time (EDT), a CE-172R, N133VU, owned by vincennes university, a title 14 code of federal regulations… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91692. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 935 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Firewall (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%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. --- 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.