# NTSB GAA16CA047: Cessna 172M, N97277, Miami, FL, November 9, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2015, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.653055, -80.431945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6531&lon=-80.4319&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 February 8, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA South Florida FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92325
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92325/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92325
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA047

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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 172P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that during the landing flare, she "missed a little bit of flare and did a flat landing." She reported that the landing didn't really feel hard, and taxied back to the ramp. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The student 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 solo student pilot reported that during the landing flare, she "missed a little bit of flare and did a flat landing." She reported that the landing didn't really feel hard, and taxied back to the ramp. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97277](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97277-2017-02-24), registration cancelled 2017-02-24, S/N 17276172, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276172
- Year built: 1984
- Airframe hours: 21135.2
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 23, 2015
- Departed: TMB, Miami, FL
- Destination: TMB, Miami, FL
- Airport: TMB, Miami Executive, runway 09L, 5,003 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KTMB

## 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 20151109022129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151109022129A), Nov 9, 2015: Cessna 172P, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. On 11/09/2015 notification came in from adf airways a 14 CFR part 141 flight school located in Miami-executive airport (tmb). The flight school assitant chief…

## Other investigations on N97277 (2)

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 ERA15CA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA038), Oct 30, 2014: Cessna 172P (N97277), Miami, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the student pilot to achieve a proper touchdown during a touch-and-go landing resulting in a hard landing and substantial damage.
- [NTSB ATL96LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA086), May 6, 1996: Cessna 172 (N97277), Winston-Salem, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the elevator in response to a bounced landing.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92325. 2.3 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=40436228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20-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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