# NTSB GAA18CA391: Cessna 172, N6508K, Troy, MI, July 2, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2018, 07:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: Troy, MI - Coordinates: 42.542778, -83.178886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5428&lon=-83.1789&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 March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97675/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97675 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA391 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised landing during an aborted go-around. ## 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 172P, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane slowed, and the stall warning sounded as the main landing gear contacted the runway. He added that it appeared that the airplane had landed, but he then observed the nose drop below the horizon. He added power to go around, but the nosewheel impacted the runway, and the airplane pitched "rearward." Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, the nose landing gear strut collapsed, and he aborted the go-around. The student taxied the airplane to park without further incident. The flight instructor reported that he witnessed that the airplane on approach was a little flat but did not appear to be unstable. The student then pitched the airplane for the numbers, the airplane floated down the runway, and it then touched down in a flat attitude. Subsequently, the airplane bounced 2 to 3 ft, porpoised, and the student was then able to taxi from the runway. The flight instructor added that the student was too late on the flare and that all of the energy came down on the nosewheel. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 250° at 7 knots. The student pilot landed the airplane on runway 27. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that during landing, the airplane slowed, and the stall warning sounded as the main landing gear contacted the runway. He added that, it appeared that the airplane had landed, but he then observed the nose drop below the horizon. He added power to go around, but the nose wheel impacted the runway and the airplane pitched "rearward". Subsequently, the airplane porpoised, the nose landing gear strut collapsed, and he aborted the go around. The student taxied the airplane to park without further incident. The flight instructor reported that, he witnessed that the airplane on approach was a little flat but did not appear to be unstable. The student then pitched the airplane for the numbers, the airplane floated down the runway, and touched down in a flat attitude. Subsequently, the airplane bounced 2 to 3 ft in the air, porpoised, and the student was then able to taxi from the runway. The flight instructor added that, the student was too late on his flare and all of the energy came down on the nose wheel. 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 system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 250° at 7 knots. The student pilot landed on runway 27. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6508K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6508K), registered now, S/N 17274205, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274205 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 9945 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2018 - Departed: VLL, Troy, MI - Destination: VLL, Troy, MI - Airport: VLL, Oakland/Troy, runway 27, 3,549 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 46.5 total, 40.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KVLL ## 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 20180702009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180702009039A), Jul 2, 2018: Cessna 172P, Troy, MI, Substantial damage. Student pilot came in for landing at approx 0650AM. Student pilot was being observed by CFI from the ground. Student pilot bounced on landing, executed a… ## Other investigations on N6508K (1) 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 CHI85LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA375), Jul 25, 1985: Cessna 172P II (N6508K), Detroit, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97675. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 734 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Student Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467386&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Flight Instructor (item 4, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-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.