# NTSB GAA17CA206: Cessna 172, N3947R, Timberlake, NC, March 23, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 23, 2017, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Timberlake, NC
- Coordinates: 36.286388, -78.981941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2864&lon=-78.9819&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94916/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94916
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA206

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during the landing flare with a tailwind, which resulted in a propeller strike.

## 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 172H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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 172H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he "felt a big push from behind," which resulted in a propeller strike and substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 6.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare he "felt a big push from behind", which resulted in a propeller strike and substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 3 knots. The airplane landed on runway 6.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3947R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3947R), registered now, S/N 17255447, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (H)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17255447
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 2600
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: S&C Aviation of NC, LLC
- Registered owner: Kelly Site Development LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2017
- Departed: TDF, Roxboro, NC
- Destination: TDF, Roxboro, NC
- Airport: TDF, Person County, runway 6, 6,005 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 129 total, 28 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.54 inHg
- Observed at: KTDF

## 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 20170323006209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170323006209A), Mar 23, 2017: Cessna 172H, Timberlake, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft accident involving a Cessna 172H at Person County Airport ktdf, north carolina at 1600 local on Thursday March 23 2017. Student pilot went out for a…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94916. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 981 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456124&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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