# NTSB GAA18CA199: Cessna 172, N803BW, New Bedford, MA, March 29, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 29, 2018, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: New Bedford, MA - Coordinates: 41.676944, -70.95861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6769&lon=-70.9586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96976 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96976/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96976 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA199 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper 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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, during a solo flight, as he flared for landing, the airplane "hit" the runway hard. He added that the airplane porpoised about 7 or 8 times before settling on the runway. He then taxied the airplane to the parking ramp with no further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The chief flight instructor 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 a solo flight, as he flared for landing, the airplane "hit" the runway hard. He added that, the airplane porpoised about 7 or 8 times before settling on the runway. He then taxied the airplane to the parking ramp with no further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N803BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N803BW-2018-08-02), registration cancelled 2018-08-02, S/N 17280773, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (R) - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280773 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 6961 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bridgewater State University - Registered owner: Bridgewater State University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 19, 2018 - Departed: EWB, New Bedford, MA - Destination: EWB, New Bedford, MA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: EWB, New Bedford Rgnl, runway 32, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KEWB ## 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 20180329000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180329000139A), Mar 29, 2018: Cessna 172R, New Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. On March 29, 2018, at about 0945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R single-engine airplane, N803BW, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96976. 966 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 966 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.