# NTSB IAD02LA067: Cessna 172, N6338F, Fulton, NY, July 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2002, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Fulton, NY - Coordinates: 43.310295, -76.409439 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3103&lon=-76.4094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55144/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55144 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a misaligned, hard landing. ## 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) - proper alignment - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command ## Analysis After a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot configured the airplane for landing. He deployed the flaps early and was flying a steeper approach angle than intended. He added power to arrest his descent, shallow his approach angle, and reach the touchdown zone of the runway. When he added power, the airplane ballooned. He then reduced the power, which caused the airplane to drop and land flat. When it touched down, the airplane was turned to the left and the nose was not aligned with the runway. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2002, at 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N6338F, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Oswego County Airport (FZY), Fulton, New York. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Syracuse International Airport (SYR), about 1000. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot, this was his first solo cross-country flight, and his intent was to practice takeoffs and landings. Upon arrival at Oswego, the student pilot configured the airplane for landing on runway 24. The winds were from about 250 degrees at 8 knots, and he put the airplane in a slip on final approach. He deployed the flaps "early," which resulted in a steeper approach angle than he intended. The student pilot added power to arrest his descent, to shallow his approach angle, and to reach the touchdown zone of the runway. When the student pilot added a little power, the airplane ballooned. He then reduced the power, which caused the airplane to drop and land flat. When it touched down, the airplane was turned to the left and the nose was not aligned with the runway. When asked about the performance and handling of the airplane, the student pilot responded that he had made four other landings with the airplane that day, and had not had any problems with it. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the nose landing gear was out of alignment, that the firewall was buckled, and that the control column was jammed. The student pilot's FAA third class medical certificate was issued March 19, 2002. He reported 23 hours of total flight experience, all in the accident airplane. Runway 24 at Oswego County Airport was 3,996 feet long, and 100 feet wide. The weather reported at the airport, 9 minutes after the accident, included winds from 260 degrees at 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6338F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6338F), registered now, S/N 17273195, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273195 - Airframe hours: 9933.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Syracuse Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 2002, 156.2 hours before - Departed: SYR, Syracuse, NY - Destination: FZY, Fulton, NY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FZY, Oswego County Airport, runway 24, 3,996 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: FZY ## 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 20020704018149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020704018149A), Jul 4, 2002: Cessna 172N, Fulton, NY, No damage. (-23) On July 4, 2002 at 1045 eastern daylight time, Cessna 172, N6338F, was substantially damaged while landing on runway 24 at the Oswego County Airport… ## Other investigations on N6338F (2) 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 ERA11CA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA236), Apr 10, 2011: Cessna 172N (N6338F), Millville, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during the go-around. - [NTSB NYC95LA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA193), Aug 14, 1995: Cessna 172 (N6338F), Fulton, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose gear. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55144. 514 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Summary of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Interview-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.