# NTSB GAA18CA085: Cessna 172, N524ND, Park Rapids, MN, December 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 2, 2017, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Park Rapids, MN - Coordinates: 46.900833, -95.072502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9008&lon=-95.0725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA085 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the propeller striking the ground. ## 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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The director of aviation safety for the flight school reported that the student pilot was on her first solo cross-country flight and that, during the approach to land, the airplane was fast and high. Subsequently, the airplane landed nose low, and the propeller struck the ground. The student did not know the propeller or fuselage had been damaged during the landing and continued the rest of her intended flight without further incident. The next assigned flight crew discovered the damage, and an examination by the maintenance department revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The director of aviation safety reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The director of aviation safety for the flight school reported, the student pilot was on her first solo cross-country flight, and that during the approach to land, the airplane was fast and high. Subsequently, the airplane landed nose low and the propeller struck the ground. The student did not know she had damaged the propeller or fuselage during the landing and continued the rest of her intended flight without further incident. The next assigned flight crew discovered the damage and an examination by the maintenance department revealed the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The director of aviation safety reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N524ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N524ND), registered now, S/N 172S10979, built 2009 (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: 172S10979 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 7292.9 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University Of North Dakota - Registered owner: University Of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: AAIP, November 16, 2017 - Departed: GFK, GRAND FORKS, ND - Destination: PKD, Park Rapids, MN - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PKD, Park Rapids Muni-Konshok Field, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Video recording device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total, 74 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KPKD ## 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 20171202018649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171202018649A), Dec 2, 2017: Cessna 172S, Park Rapids, MN, Substantial damage. Another school instructor pilot discovered aircraft damage during preflight. The aircraft had not been flown for several days and the school determined through… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96475. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 881 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (Courtesy of Flight School) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures%20(Courtesy%20of%20Flight%20School)-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.