# NTSB GAA18CA547: Cessna 172, N557SP, Burlington, VT, August 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 20, 2018, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Burlington, VT - Coordinates: 44.472499, -73.152778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4725&lon=-73.1528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - 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): 98280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA547 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98280/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98280 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA547 ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [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. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, he was struggling to keep the airspeed at 60 to 70 knots, so he entered a side slip and reduced the power to idle. Once assured the airplane would reach the runway, he aligned the airplane with the runway. The airplane landed on the left main landing gear, bounced, and the student performed a go-around. He entered the left traffic pattern and landed without further incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall and 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 station located on the airport reported that, about 6 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 270° at 6 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, he was struggling to keep the airplane at 60 to 70 knots of airspeed, so he entered a side slip and reduced the power to idle. Once assured he would make the runway, he aligned the airplane with the runway, the airplane landed on the left main landing gear, bounced, and the student performed a go around. He entered the left traffic pattern and landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the firewall and 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 6 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 270° at 6 knots. The airplane landed on runway 33. ## Aircraft - Registration: N557SP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8043 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 8580.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Vermont Flight Academy - Registered owner: Vermont Flight Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 16, 2018 - Departed: BTV, Burlington, VT - Destination: BTV, Burlington, VT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BTV, Burlington Intl, runway 33, 8,319 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 57.4 total, 16 in this make and model, 7.3 as pilot in command, 18.7 in the last 90 days, 3.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KBTV ## 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 20180820011889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180820011889A), Aug 20, 2018: Cessna 172S, South Burlingto, VT, Substantial damage. Student pilot on cross-country solo flight landed hard, bounced and performed a go around. The second landing was without incident. However upon shutdown the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98280. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Student Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flight School (item 2, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Flight%20School-Master.PDF - Student Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.