# NTSB GAA17CA065: Cessna 172, N2272C, Sarasota, FL, November 8, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 8, 2016, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Coordinates: 27.390832, -82.556945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3908&lon=-82.5569&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 July 5, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94374
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94374/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94374
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA065

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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)
- [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)

## 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 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 student pilot reported that, during his third solo flight, he "had a hard landing." He added that he aborted the landing, landed again, and taxied to the ramp without further incident. After shutting the airplane down, he noticed that the propeller and nose landing gear were damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during his 3rd solo flight he "had a hard landing". He further reported that he aborted the landing, landed again, and taxied to the ramp without further incident. After shutting the airplane down, he noticed that the propeller and nose landing gear were damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2272C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2272C), registered now, S/N 172S9954, 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: 172S9954
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 4584.5
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Cirrus Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Blanco Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 26, 2016
- Departed: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Destination: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Airport: SRQ, Sarasota/Bradenton Intl, runway 04, 5,009 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 5.8 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 39.2 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KSRQ, 1 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 20161108018389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161108018389A), Nov 8, 2016: Cessna 172S, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot on third solo flight experienced a hard landing on runway 04. Pilot elected to go around and landed uneventfully. Pilot taxied to the ramp and…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94374. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Student Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452962&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.

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