# NTSB GAA17CA104: Cessna 172, N1289Y, Palm Coast, FL, December 24, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 24, 2016, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Palm Coast, FL
- Coordinates: 29.468334, -81.199996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4683&lon=-81.2000&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 April 4, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94544/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94544
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA104

## Probable cause

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

## 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-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, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); 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

According to the flight instructor who observed the student pilot's first solo flight from the ground, the airplane landed hard and porpoised due to the student pilot's improper flare. A postaccident examination revealed the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the aileron and elevator systems and the firewall. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor who observed the student pilot's first solo flight from the ground, the airplane landed hard and porpoised due to the student pilots improper flare. A post-accident examination showed the airplane had received substantial damage to the aileron and elevator systems, as well as the firewall of the airplane. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1289Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1289Y), registered now, S/N 172S9851, 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: 172S9851
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 10585.1
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 16, 2016
- Departed: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Destination: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Airport: FIN, Flagler Executive, runway 06, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 37.9 total, 37.9 in this make and model, 37.9 in the last 90 days, 15.8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: KDAB, 19 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 20161224020329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161224020329A), Dec 24, 2016: Cessna 172S, Palm Coast, FL, Substantial damage. On December 24, 2016, at approximately 09.30 am local time, a student pilot lost control while landing N1289Y, a Cessna 172S, during his first supervised solo…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94544. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 648 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449601&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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