# NTSB GAA19CA137: Cessna 172, N572ND, Sanford, FL, February 15, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 15, 2019, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Sanford, FL - Coordinates: 28.779443, -81.235832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7794&lon=-81.2358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 98997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98997/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98997 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA137 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure maintain the proper pitch attitude during landing, which resulted in the airplane porpoising. ## 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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072439), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, during final approach to land, he realized that the airplane was too high and that he had not added "enough flare." The airplane landed nosewheel first during the touchdown and then started to porpoise. The student conducted a go-around, entered the traffic pattern, and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the firewall. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the wind was from 100° at 3 knots, and the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 27L. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during final approach to land, he realized he was too high, he "didn't add enough flare." The airplane landed nose wheel first during the touchdown; subsequently, the airplane started to porpoise. The student pilot performed a go-around, entered the traffic pattern, and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, aft of the firewall. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident the wind was from 100 degrees true at 3 knots, and the airplane was landing runway 27L. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N572ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N572ND), registered now, S/N 172S10940, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S10940 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 8677.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: L3 Commercial Pilot Solution - Registered owner: UND Aerospace Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 30, 2019 - Departed: SFB, Sanford, FL - Destination: SFB, Sanford, FL - Airport: SFB, Orlando Sanford Intl, runway 27L, 6,647 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 25; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KSFB ## 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 20190215016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190215016509A), Feb 15, 2019: Cessna 172S, Sanford, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot attempted to land on runway 27C and made a go around and circled to land runway 27L. On the go around from runway 27L, student pilot indicated… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98997. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471059&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.