# NTSB GAA19CA020: Cessna 172, N996SB, Lawrenceville, GA, October 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 14, 2018, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceville, GA - Coordinates: 33.978054, -83.962501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9781&lon=-83.9625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98485 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98485/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98485 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA020 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper pitch application, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent fire. Contributing to the accident was the student’s failure to give over the flight controls to the flight instructor when instructed to do so. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the student pilot approached the runway with too shallow of an angle. The student applied forward pressure on the yoke, and the airplane's nose pitched down. The instructor recalled that the student's pitch application was excessive, and he called for a transfer of the flight controls. However, the student remained on the controls, and the instructor had to overpower the student's control inputs while the airplane was in a 45° nose-down attitude. The airplane landed hard in a level attitude, and the nose landing gear collapsed. A fire erupted in the cabin, and the instructor used the fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire. Subsequently, the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, and both occupants exited; the fire consumed the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin and wings. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that the student pilot's approach angle was too shallow. The student applied forward pressure to the yoke and the airplane's nose pitched down. The instructor recalled that the student's pitch application was excessive, and he called for a transfer of the flight controls. However, the student remained on the controls and the instructor had to overpower the student's control inputs while the airplane was in a 45° nose down attitude. The airplane landed hard in a level attitude, and the nose landing gear collapsed. A fire erupted in the cabin and the instructor used the fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire. Subsequently, the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, and both occupants exited as the fire consumed the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin and the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N996SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N996SB-2019-07-15), registration cancelled 2019-07-15, S/N 17258251, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258251 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 10896 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skyfusion II Llc. - Registered owner: Skyfusion II Llc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2018 - Departed: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Destination: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County - Briscoe Fiel, runway 07, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,006 total, 654 in this make and model, 2,955 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KLZU ## 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 20181014020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181014020079A), Oct 14, 2018: Cessna 172K, Lawrenceville, GA, Destroyed. The aircraft was cleared for landing on runway 07 with a student pilot at the controls. Over the end of the runway, the aircraft was too high and the student… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98485. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473597&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.