# NTSB GAA18CA267: Cessna 172, N7762X, Fulton, NY, May 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 5, 2018, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Fulton, NY - Coordinates: 43.351943, -76.385559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3519&lon=-76.3856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA267 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced 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 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072406), [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 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072406), [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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072406), [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 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while practicing landings, he thought the wind was becoming "gusty," so he increased his approach speed. He added that, over the runway threshold, he reduced throttle and felt the airplane enter ground effect. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and landed hard a second time. The student pilot added full power and turned off carburetor heat, and the airplane landed hard a third time. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in the grass next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 230° at 7 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 24 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 260° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, while practicing landings, he thought the wind was becoming "gusty", so he increased his approach speed. He added that, over the runway threshold, he reduced throttle and felt the airplane enter ground effect. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and landed hard a second time. The student pilot added full power and turned off carburetor heat, and the airplane landed hard a third time. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in the grass next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 230° at 7 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 24 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 260° at 7 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7762X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7762X), registered now, S/N 17248262, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248262 - Year built: 1961 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: True Course Flight School - Registered owner: True Course LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FZY, Fulton, NY - Destination: FZY, Fulton, NY - Airport: FZY, Oswego County, runway 24, 3,996 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 63; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 82 total, 82 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days, 1.1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KFZY ## 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 20180505004769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180505004769A), May 5, 2018: Cessna 172B, Fulton, NY, Substantial damage. On 5/05/2018, at approximately 0830 local time, student pilot returned to fzy from a solo flight. During final to runway 24, pilot stated he was higher than… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97219. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465727&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.