# NTSB GAA16CA268: Cessna 172, N1724U, Newport News, VA, May 19, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2016, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Newport News, VA - Coordinates: 37.127777, -76.495834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1278&lon=-76.4958&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 July 25, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93283/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93283 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA268 ## Probable cause The student pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a substantially damaged 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 528 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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,308 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 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following an instructional pattern flight of about 2 hours, the solo student pilot took off and remained in the traffic pattern. During the first landing touchdown, the student pilot reported that he landed in a flat pitch attitude and the nose wheel tire blew. Subsequently, the airplane started to porpoise and the propeller struck the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative Following an instructional pattern flight of about 2 hours, the solo student pilot took off and remained in the traffic pattern. During the first landing touchdown, the student pilot reported that he landed in a flat pitch attitude and the nose wheel tire blew. Subsequently, the airplane started to porpoise and the propeller struck the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1724U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1724U), registered now, S/N 172S10443, built 2007 (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: 172S10443 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 4139.4 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Freedom Aviation - Registered owner: Liberty University School Of Aeronautics - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 25, 2016 - Departed: PHF, Newport News, VA - Destination: PHF, Newport News, VA - Airport: PHF, Newport News/Williamsburg Intl, runway 07, 8,003 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KPHF ## 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 20160519004689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160519004689A), May 19, 2016: Cessna 172S, Newport News, VA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on his first solo traffic pattern flight and landing. The pilot landed flat causing the plane to porpoise. The nose wheel deflated and the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93283. 2.2 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=40442336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Written Statement (Student Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20(Student%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.