# NTSB GAA19CA590: Cessna 172, N309BR, St. Augustine, FL, September 25, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 25, 2019, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.959167, -81.339721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9592&lon=-81.3397&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 March 17, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100485
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA590
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100485/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100485
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA590

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, 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: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane bounced and landed hard and that the airplane then began to veer right. He taxied off the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nosewheel. 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, while landing, the airplane bounced and landed hard. The airplane began to "cavitate" and veered right. He taxied off the runway without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nose wheel. The solo student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N309BR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N309BR), registered now, S/N 172S8101, built 1999 (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 I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S8101
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 4977
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Valdosta Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: Valdosta Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 2019
- Departed: GNV, Gainesville, FL
- Destination: SGJ, St. Augustine, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SGJ, Northeast Florida Rgnl, runway 31, 7,997 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KSGJ

## 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 20190925018609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190925018609A), Sep 25, 2019: Cessna 172S, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot on cross country solo flight. Hard landing runway 31 at taxiway B2, with blown nose tire and propeller strike. Substantial damage to the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100485. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Damage Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Photos-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.

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