# NTSB GAA16CA104: Cessna 172, N417ER, Dothan, AL, January 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 12, 2016, 10:18 local (16:18 UTC) - Place: Dothan, AL - Coordinates: 31.321666, -85.451385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3217&lon=-85.4514&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 March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Alabama and Northwest Florida FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA104 ## Probable cause The pilot-rated student's hard landing, which resulted in fuselage damage. ## 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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the solo pilot-rated student was conducting a cross county flight and during the touchdown, the airplane bounced "multiple times," landed hard, and the propeller impacted the runway. The pilot taxied off the runway without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and to the floorboards underneath the rudder pedals. The operator reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The operator reported that the solo pilot-rated student was conducting a cross county flight and during the touchdown, the airplane bounced "multiple times," landed hard, and the propeller impacted the runway. The pilot taxied off the runway without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and to the floorboards underneath the rudder pedals. The operator reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N417ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N417ER), registered now, S/N 172S11445, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S11445 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 1478.7 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Inc - Registered owner: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 10, 2015 - Departed: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Destination: DHN, Dothan, AL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DHN, Dothan Rgnl, runway 32, 8,499 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review May 20, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 161 total, 139 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KDHN ## 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 20160112000559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160112000559A), Jan 12, 2016: Cessna 172S, Dothan, AL, Substantial damage. While on approach, a solo flight student on board of N417ER was cautioned by the Dothan (dhn) control tower about wake turbulence from a previously departing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92600. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.