# NTSB GAA18CA326: Cessna 172, N789EP, Westminster, MD, May 26, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2018, 23:00 local (May 26, 2018, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Westminster, MD - Coordinates: 39.610832, -77.009719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6108&lon=-77.0097&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 November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97414/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97414 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA326 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard 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 · 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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during short final at night, he reduced power to idle, and the airplane descended rapidly and landed hard in a flat attitude. He added that, after touchdown, the airplane bounced, and he applied full power to go around. He entered the traffic pattern and then landed without further incident. Postaccident examination 3 days after the accident revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during short final at night, he reduced power to idle and the airplane descended rapidly and landed hard in a flat attitude. He added that, after touchdown the airplane bounced, and he applied full power to go around. He entered the traffic pattern and then landed without further incident. Postaccident examination three days later revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N789EP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N789EP), registered now, S/N 172S8135, built 1999 (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 I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8135 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 6735.6 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dream Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Dream Flight LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2018 - Departed: WWD, WILDWOOD, NJ - Destination: DMW, Westminster, MD - Airport: DMW, Carroll County Rgnl/Jack B Poa, runway 16, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 59.7 total, 59.7 in this make and model, 24.6 as pilot in command, 8.3 in the last 90 days, 6.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KDMW ## 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 20180525005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180525005919A), May 25, 2018: Cessna 172S, Westminster, MD, Substantial damage. Private pilot landed N789EP (Cessna 172S) at kdmw on rwy 16 on 05/25/2018 around 2300L with a hard landing damaging aircraft. Subsequent maintenance inspection… ## Other investigations on N789EP (2) 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 ERA11CA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA408), Jul 1, 2011: Cessna 172S (N789EP), Cambridge, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. - [NTSB ERA10CA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA305), Jun 4, 2010: Cessna 172S (N789EP), Baltimore, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to land during a thunderstorm. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97414. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466122&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.