# NTSB GAA17CA025: Cessna 172, N429ES, Kapolei, HI, October 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 5, 2016, 12:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Kapolei, HI - Coordinates: 21.302778, -158.078613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3028&lon=-158.0786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94221/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94221 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA025 ## Probable cause The pilot’s use of an excessive pitch attitude during the landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 172R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing flare he pitched up "higher than what is normal" and the airplane bounced three times during the touchdown. The pilot further reported that he was able to taxi the airplane to the ramp, but he noticed the nose wheel was flat. During a 100-hour maintenance inspection conducted a week later, it was revealed that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing flare he pitched up "higher than what is normal" and the airplane bounced three times during the touchdown. The pilot further reported that he was able to taxi the airplane to the ramp, but he noticed the nose wheel was flat. During a 100-hour maintenance inspection conducted a week later, it was revealed that the firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N429ES](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N429ES), registered now, S/N 17280296, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280296 - Year built: 1997 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 2016 - Departed: LIH, LIHUE, HI - Destination: JRF, Kapolei, HI - Airport: JRF, Kalaeloa (John Rodgers Field), runway 04L, 4,500 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,034 total, 39 in this make and model, 1,302 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PHNL, 8 nm away ## 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 20161005016219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161005016219A), Oct 5, 2016: Cessna 172R, Kapolei, HI, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted]Reported accident because rental plane owner told him to report. Bent firewall may of been caused by hard landing [privacy data omitted]… ## Other investigations on N429ES (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 WPR26LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA365), Sep 19, 2026: Cessna 172R (N429ES), Ho'olehua, HI, substantial damage, investigation ongoing ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94221. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447013&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Chief Instructor (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Chief%20Instructor-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447014&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.