# NTSB GAA16CA295: Cessna 172, N124CK, Thomson, GA, June 8, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 7, 2016, 22:00 local (Jun 8, 2016, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Thomson, GA
- Coordinates: 33.529167, -82.510559 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5292&lon=-82.5106&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA295
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93349/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93349
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA295

## Probable cause

The student pilot's incorrect landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing, nose wheel collapse, and runway excursion.

## 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)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 118 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that during a night training flight the airplane was high on final approach. He further reported that during the landing flare, the airplane ballooned and then touched down hard. The flight instructor attempted to abort the landing, but the nose gear collapsed during the touchdown and the airplane veered off the runway. The right wing and left elevator sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during a night training flight the airplane was high on final approach. He further reported that during the landing flare, the airplane ballooned and then touched down hard. The flight instructor attempted to abort the landing, but the nose gear collapsed during the touchdown and the airplane veered off the runway. The right wing and left elevator sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N124CK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N124CK), registered now, S/N 172S9808, built 2005 (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: 172S9808
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 3123.5
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2016
- Departed: HQU, THOMSON, GA
- Destination: HQU, Thomson, GA
- Airport: HQU, Thomson-Mcduffie County, runway 28, 5,514 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review February 16, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,529 total, 1,125 in this make and model, 569 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 33 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: KHQU

## 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 20160607006899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160607006899A), Jun 7, 2016: Cessna 172S, Thomson, GA, Substantial damage. On 06/07/2016, aircraft N124CK a Cessna 172S attempted to land on runway 28 at Thomson-Mcduffie Airport (khqu) in Thomson, GA. After, a hard landing at,…

## Other investigations on N124CK (1)

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 ATL06CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA117), Aug 3, 2006: Cessna 172S (N124CK), Thomson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in an on-ground collision with an embankment.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93349. 2.9 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=40442719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 985 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%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.

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