# NTSB GAA18CA464: Cessna 172, N865CP, Spring, TX, July 26, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2018, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Spring, TX - Coordinates: 30.055555, -95.552223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0556&lon=-95.5522&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): 97973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA464 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97973/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97973 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA464 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare in a crosswind, 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 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) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, he flared the airplane high, and it then landed hard. He added that the airplane "dipped," and he felt the nosewheel wobble. He then turned off the engine and "steered to the grass" off the runway. 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 student reported that the wind was from 110° at 6 knots. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 23 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 100° at 9 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35R. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, he flared high, and the airplane landed hard. He added that the airplane "dipped", and he felt the nose wheel wobble. He then turned off the engine and "steered to the grass" off the runway. 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 pilot reported that the wind was from 110° at 6 knots. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 23 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 100° at 9 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35R. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N865CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N865CP), registered now, S/N 17280602, built 1998 (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: 17280602 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 13200.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: D&S Aviation LLC, doing business as United Flight Systems - Registered owner: D&S Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 25, 2018 - Departed: DWH, Spring, TX - Destination: DWH, Spring, TX - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial, runway 35R, 3,500 × 35 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 79 total, 79 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 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 20180726018759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180726018759A), Jul 26, 2018: Cessna 172R, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot stated the aircraft was on approach to runway 35 right. He flared the aircraft too high on final. The aircraft stalled and fell to the runway. During… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97973. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467846&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.