# NTSB GAA19CA537: Czech Sport Sportcruiser, N117BF, Murrieta, CA, August 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2019, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Murrieta, CA - Coordinates: 33.574165, -117.128608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5742&lon=-117.1286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA537 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100237/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100237 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA537 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control and a hard landing. ## 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: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600066), [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: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600066), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that his second approach for landing was low and that, when he flared, the wheels contacted the runway, and the airplane bounced. The student did not want to stall the airplane, so he pitched the nose down to level it, but it bounced again, drifted left, exited the runway, landed hard, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The operator 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 his second approach for landing was low and when he flared, the wheels contacted the runway and the airplane bounced. The student pilot did not want to stall the airplane, so he pitched the nose down to level the airplane and the airplane bounced again, drifted and exited the runway to the left. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The airplane operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117BF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N117BF), registered now, S/N C0614, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Czech Sport SPORTCRUISER (No Series) - Registry model: [Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-sport-aircraft-a-s-sportcruiser) (registry code 0600066) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C0614 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 1053.3 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bountiful Flight LLC, doing business as FLT Academy - Registered owner: Skywest Leasing Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 14, 2019 - Departed: F70, Murrieta/Temecula, CA - Destination: F70, Murrieta/Temecula, CA - Airport: F70, French Valley, runway 18, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 20 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 20190830011609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190830011609A), Aug 30, 2019: Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, Murrieta, CA, Substantial damage. A student pilot was on his first solo flight performing touch and go take off?s and landings on runway 18 at french valley airport (F70). On the approach to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100237. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Solo Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Solo%20Student%20Pilot%20Statement%20-Master.PDF - CFI Statement (item 3, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481116&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.