- Date
- May 14, 2017, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Clarksville, TN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N53460Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170514008899A
- Case key
- 95223
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s unstabilized approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during his approach, he turned to base too early. His approach glide angle was too high, and "I reduced power but also nosed the plane over in order to descend." The airplane's airspeed increased, and the airplane ballooned during the landing flare. The airplane touched down hard, porpoised on the runway, and a propeller strike occurred. He taxied to park and noticed that the firewall had sustained substantial damage.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during his approach, he made his turn to base too early. His approach glide angle was too high and, "I reduced power but also nosed the plane over in order to descend." The airplane's airspeed increased and the airplane ballooned during the landing flare. The airplane touched down hard, it porpoised on the runway and a propeller strike occurred. He taxied to parking and noticed that substantial damage was sustained to the fire wall.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53460
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (S)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S9351
- Built
- 2003
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MQY · Smyrna, TN
- Destination
- SIK · Sikeston, MO
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- CKV · Outlaw Field, runway 17, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 24, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 3,151 total · 45.5 in this make and model · 2,196 as pilot in command · 61.9 in the last 90 days · 21.2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KCKV
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N53460 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.