# NTSB GAA19CA558: Cessna 172, N9837L, Chicago, IL, August 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2019, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.785831, -87.752502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7858&lon=-87.7525&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 April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA558 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA558 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, porpoised 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 · 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) - [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) ## 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 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, he was startled by the airplane impacting the runway early and then bouncing. Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard and porpoised. He increased power to abort the landing and retracted the flaps, but the airplane was unable to take off. He reduced engine power, and the airplane rolled to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage bulkhead. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing flare, he was startled by the early impact and bounce. The airplane touched down hard and bounced about three times in a "porpoise pattern." He increased power to abort the landing, and he retracted the flaps but, "It was too late to recover." He reduced engine power and the airplane rolled to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage bulkhead. The airport's METAR reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 5 knots. The airplane landed on runway 04L. The airport elevation was 618ft, the temperature was 82°F, the barometric setting was 29.94, and the estimated density altitude was 2,300ft. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9837L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9837L), registered now, S/N 17276629, built 1986 (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: 17276629 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 10140 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: T&G Flying Club - Registered owner: Daviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 2019 - Departed: SBN, South Bend, IN - Destination: MDW, Chicago, IL - Airport: MDW, Chicago Midway Intl, runway 04L, 5,507 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 21, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 236 total, 87 in this make and model, 201 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KMDW ## 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 20190809013619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190809013619A), Aug 9, 2019: Cessna 172P, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot of N9837L was attempting to land on runway 4L at the Chicago-Midway international airport. The pilot made a faster than normal approach to land and… ## Other investigations on N9837L (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 NYC91FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA055), Jan 2, 1991: Cessna 172P (N9837L), Rattlesnake Isl, OH, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE CFI'S DELAYED DECISION TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND FROM A LONG LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100300. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479609&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.