# NTSB GAA16CA340: Cessna 172, N7095G, Lumberton, NJ, May 31, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2016, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Lumberton, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.942779, -74.845832 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9428&lon=-74.8458&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 5, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93485
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA340
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93485/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93485
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA340

## Probable cause

The pilot's hard landing, resulting in a runway excursion and substantial damage to the 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 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/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); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing, the main landing gear touched down first, followed by the nose landing gear. He reported that the nose landing gear tire deflated upon contact with the runway surface. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that the main landing gear touched down at airspeed of about 40 knots, and the airplane rolled to the right side of the runway and came to rest about 5 feet from the edge of the runway. The Airframe and Powerplant mechanic that recovered the airplane reported that the nose landing gear wheel was broken in half and damage was sustained to the upper and lower firewall on both the pilot and copilot sides. According to the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook: The stall airspeed for this airplane with flaps down, power off is 49 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the airplane prior to touch down that would have prevented normal flight operations.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing, the main landing gear touched down first, followed by the nose landing gear. He reported that the nose landing gear tire deflated upon contact with the runway surface. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that the main landing gear touched down at airspeed of about 40 knots, and the airplane rolled to the right side of the runway and came to rest about 5 feet from the edge of the runway. The Airframe and Powerplant mechanic that recovered the airplane reported that the nose landing gear wheel was broken in half and damage was sustained to the upper and lower firewall on both the pilot and copilot sides. According to the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook: The stall airspeed for this airplane with flaps down, power off is 49 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the airplane prior to touch down that would have prevented normal flight operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7095G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7095G), registered now, S/N 17258795, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (K)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17258795
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 3324
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: VAY, Lumberton, NJ
- Destination: VAY, Lumberton, NJ
- Airport: VAY, South Jersey Rgnl, runway 08, 3,881 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 23, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 529 total, 342 in this make and model, 469 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KVAY

## 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 20160531008459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160531008459A), May 31, 2016: Cessna 172K, Mount Holly, NJ, Substantial damage. ^Mr. John hunter^ pilot in command of N7095G, a CE-172, while performing touch and go's at south jersey regional airport (vay) landed hard blowing out the…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93485. 2.4 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=40445406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Recovery Company (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445408&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Recovery%20Company-Master.PDF
- Photos (Courtesy of Crew Dawg Aviation) (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 351 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Crew%20Dawg%20Aviation)-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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