# NTSB IAD01LA042: Cessna 172R, N2462T, Lawrence, MA, April 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 2001, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lawrence, MA - Coordinates: 42.716945, -71.123336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7169&lon=-71.1233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD01LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52046/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings in the traffic pattern. He performed two landings uneventfully, and during the third landing the student pilot "flared too early," the airplane bounced twice, and then hit hard on the nose gear. The nose gear sheared off, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. No mechanical malfunctions of the airplane were observed. The student pilot reported 55 hours of total flight experience in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 2001, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N2462T, was substantially damaged during landing at the Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM), Lawrence, Massachusetts. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local solo flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings at LWM. He departed from runway 23 about 1300, and performed two landings uneventfully. The student pilot stated that the third approach "looked good," and the airspeed was about 65 knots on final. He reported that he "flared too early," bounced twice, and then the airplane "hit hard" on the nose gear. The nose gear sheared off, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall, and the nose gear was torn off. Additionally, both propeller blades were bent back, and a "scuff mark" was noted on the front side of one of the blades. No mechanical malfunctions were observed with the landing gear. The winds reported at LWM at 1354, were from 310 degrees at 6 knots. The student pilot reported 55 hours of total flight experience in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2462T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2462T), registered now, S/N 17280834, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280834 - Airframe hours: 501.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eagle East Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2001, 75.2 hours before - Departed: LWM, Lawrence, MA - Destination: LWM - Airport: LWM, Lawrence Municipal Airport, runway 23, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: LWM ## 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 20010409006329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010409006329A), Apr 9, 2001: Cessna 172R, Lawrence, MA, No damage. (-23) Student pilot on local solo flight was conducting third touch and go, bounced the alnding, and afiled to recover from ensuing porpoise. On the third… 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.