# NTSB GAA17CA229: Cessna 172, N2477F, San Marcos, TX, April 6, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 6, 2017, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: San Marcos, TX
- Coordinates: 29.888889, -97.866668 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8889&lon=-97.8667&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 October 31, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94998/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94998
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA229

## 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 solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he "pulled aft yoke," which resulted in a "substantial balloon." He added that he "unconsciously pushed forward yoke resulting in a very hard flat or nose wheel first landing." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the landing flare he "pulled aft yoke" which resulted in a "substantial balloon." He added that, he "unconsciously pushed forward yoke resulting in a very hard flat or nose wheel first lading". The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2477F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2477F), registered now, S/N 172S10574, built 2007 (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: 172S10574
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 3436.4
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Coast Flight Training.
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 11, 2017
- Departed: HYI, San Marcos, TX
- Destination: HYI, San Marcos, TX
- Airport: HYI, San Marcos Regional, runway 13, 5,601 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,672.1 total, 7.1 in this make and model, 1,465 as pilot in command, 72.1 in the last 90 days, 7.1 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: KHYI

## 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 20170406003929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170406003929A), Apr 6, 2017: Cessna 172S, San Marcos, TX, Substantial damage. On April 6, 2017, at 1230 CDT, a Cessna 172 bearing registration number N2477F, registered to christiansen aviation inc., experienced a propeller strike upon…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94998. 11.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 11.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 438 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456709&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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