# NTSB GAA17CA437: Cessna 172, N6470E, Powell, WY, July 24, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2017, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Powell, WY - Coordinates: 44.872776, -108.795829 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8728&lon=-108.7958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA437 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95665/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95665 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA437 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to relinquish the flight controls, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [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 172, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072402), [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 172, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072402), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during the landing flare about 20 ft above the runway, the student pilot "froze" at the flight controls. She added that she told the student pilot, "Add power – too high," but the student did not respond. The student pilot "hung on" to the flight controls, "forcing [the] instructor to push full power and physically [take the] airplane." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard, and the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, during the landing flare about 20 ft. above the runway, the student pilot "froze" at the flight controls. She added that, she told the student pilot, "Add power – too high", but the student did not respond. The student pilot "hung on" to the flight controls, "forcing [the] instructor to push full power and physically [take the] airplane." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6470E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6470E), registered now, S/N 46570, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46570 - Year built: 1959 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2017 - Departed: COD, CODY, WY - Destination: POY, Powell, WY - Airport: POY, Powell Muni, runway 13, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 74; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 2, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 20,054 total, 4,750 in this make and model, 19,054 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 65; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 275 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KCOD, 23 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 20170724015599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170724015599A), Jul 24, 2017: Cessna 172, Powell, WY, Substantial damage. The flight instructor was conducting flight training when on short approach the student pilot froze on the controls resulting in the aircraft hitting the… ## Other investigations on N6470E (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK69D0283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0283), Apr 6, 1969: Cessna 172 (N6470E), San Jose, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95665. 531 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 433 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.