# NTSB GAA18CA143: Cessna 172, N9520Z, McKinney, TX, January 24, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 24, 2018, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: McKinney, TX
- Coordinates: 33.180278, -96.588607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1803&lon=-96.5886&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 May 14, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96799
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96799/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96799
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA143

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper approach and landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised 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: 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)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that, during the approach to land, the airplane was high, and as she descended, the airspeed increased. She added that, during the touchdown, the airplane bounced three times, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during the approach to land, the airplane was high, and as she descended the airspeed increased. She added that, during the touchdown, the airplane bounced three times and the nose landing gear collapsed. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9520Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9520Z), registered now, S/N 172S11278, built 2013 (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: 172S11278
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 2128.1
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Menagerie Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Mngs
- Registered owner: Edwin Jones Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 10, 2018
- Departed: TKI, McKinney, TX
- Destination: TKI, McKinney, TX
- Airport: TKI, Mckinney National, runway 18, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 30 total, 24 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.48 inHg
- Observed at: KTKI, 1 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 20180124006549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180124006549A), Jan 24, 2018: Cessna 172S, Mckinney, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot, [privacy data omitted] ,was coming in to land N9520Z at tki with engine power at aproximately 1700 RPM at 74 knots. She stated that she was a…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96799. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 857 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Student Pilot/Flight Insturctor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%2FFlight%20Insturctor%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461734&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.

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