# NTSB GAA15CA214: Cessna 172N, N6223D, Miami, FL, August 3, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 3, 2015, 07:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.647499, -80.433334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6475&lon=-80.4333&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 December 3, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91713/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91713 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA214 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane firewall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 172N, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [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) ## 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 According to the student pilot, while performing touch and go landings at his host airport, the airplane sustained a hard landing. He stated that the first of two landings was flat and the airplane bounced, but the subsequent takeoff was normal. He reported that during the second landing, "I felt that there was something wrong with the tire, so I stopped, followed the checklist to shut down the engine and proceeded to contact tower and request assistance." A post flight inspection revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fire wall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, while performing touch and go landings at his host airport, the airplane sustained a hard landing. He stated that the first of two landings was flat and the airplane bounced, but the subsequent takeoff was normal. He reported that during the second landing, "I felt that there was something wrong with the tire, so I stopped, followed the checklist to shut down the engine and proceeded to contact tower and request assistance." A post flight inspection revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fire wall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6223D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6223D-2015-10-13), registration cancelled 2015-10-13, S/N 17272643, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N (N) - 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: 17272643 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3590 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 E2G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: ADF Airways, doing business as ADF Airways - Registered owner: Geotom Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2015, 1 hours before - Departed: TMB, Miami, FL - Destination: TMB, Miami, FL - Airport: TMB, Miami Executive, runway 09R, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 54 total, 54 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: TMB ## 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 20150803013049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150803013049A), Aug 3, 2015: Cessna 172N, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Hard landing on nose wheel on solo flight by student pilot ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91713. 3.2 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=40434026&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%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. --- 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.