# NTSB GAA18CA498: Cessna 172, N984BT, Beaver Falls, PA, July 8, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 8, 2018, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Beaver Falls, PA - Coordinates: 40.772499, -80.391387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7725&lon=-80.3914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA498 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98118/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98118 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA498 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after 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 solo student pilot reported that her first approach was unstable, and she aborted the landing. During the subsequent approach, while on the downwind leg, the tower controller advised her to be cautious of wake turbulence. She continued the approach, and during landing, the airplane bounced twice. She attempted to abort the landing, but the propeller struck the ground. She then taxied the airplane to a taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward lower fuselage longerons and bulkheads. The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that her first approach was unstable, and she aborted the landing. During the subsequent approach, while on the downwind leg, the tower controller advised her to be cautious of wake turbulence. She continued the approach and during landing, the airplane bounced twice. She attempted to abort the landing, but the propeller struck the ground. She discontinued the aborted landing, and she established a landing roll. She was able to taxi the airplane to parking. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward lower fuselage longerons and bulkheads. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N984BT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N984BT), registered now, S/N 17280431, 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: 17280431 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Moore Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Moore Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GKJ, Meadville, PA - Destination: GKJ, Meadville, PA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BVI, Beaver County, runway 10, 4,501 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 70.4 total, 70.4 in this make and model, 2.9 as pilot in command, 14.8 in the last 90 days, 10.3 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KBVI, 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 20180708015889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180708015889A), Jul 8, 2018: Cessna 172R, Beaver Falls, PA, Substantial damage. Student was attempting her first solo cross country to meadville (kgkj) airport. On the landing at Beaver county (kbvi) airport, student appeared to be at a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98118. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.