# NTSB GAA19CA087: Cessna 172, N65773, Monroe, NC, December 3, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 3, 2018, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Monroe, NC - Coordinates: 35.017501, -80.621948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0175&lon=-80.6219&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 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98735 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98735/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98735 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA087 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and nose landing gear collapse. ## 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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, upon touchdown, he maintained aft pressure on the control yoke to keep the nose landing gear (NLG) off the runway, but the airplane bounced. The main landing gear touched down again hard, followed by the NLG, which then collapsed, and the left wing impacted the grass adjacent the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, upon touchdown, he maintained aft pressure on the control yoke to keep the nose landing gear off the runway, but the airplane bounced. The airplane's main landing gear touched down again hard, followed by the nose landing gear, which then collapsed, and the left wing impacted the grass adjacent the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65773](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65773), registered now, S/N 17275876, built 1982 (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: 17275876 - Year built: 1982 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aerowood Aviation - Registered owner: Aerowood Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: EQY, Monroe, NC - Destination: EQY, Monroe, NC - Airport: EQY, Charlotte-Monroe Executive, runway 23, 7,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KEQY ## 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 20181203020669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181203020669A), Dec 3, 2018: Cessna 172P, Monroe, NC, Substantial damage. While conducting pattern work RWY23 at eqy airport. Pilot stated that on third landing the aircraft started to porpoise during flare, clipped left wing, front… ## Other investigations on N65773 (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 CEN20CA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA241), Jun 12, 2020: Cessna 172 (N65773), Bowling Green, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98735. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479242&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.