# NTSB IAD05CA104: Cessna 172S, N3537B, Charlottesville, VA, July 19, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2005, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Charlottesville, VA
- Coordinates: 38.135833, -78.452774
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1358&lon=-78.4528&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Richmond, VA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05CA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62012/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05CA104

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a 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)

## Analysis

Following an uneventful flight, the student pilot completed the approach, and began the landing flare over the runway.  According to the pilot, " I started the flare too early, [and] I was too high."  He further explained that the airplane stalled, and landed hard on the runway.

## Factual narrative

On July 19, 2005, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N3537B, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO), Charlottesville, Virginia.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at the Manassas Regional Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia, about 0930.  No flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot said that the flight to Charlottesville was uneventful, and that the airplane performed "beautifully" during the flight.  As he approached the airport, the pilot configured the airplane for landing on runway 21.  The pilot completed the approach, and began the landing flare over the runway.  According to the pilot, " I started the flare too early, [and] I was too high."  He further explained that the airplane stalled, and landed hard on the runway.

When asked specifically about the performance and handling of the airplane, the pilot responded, "The airplane was fine."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3537B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3537B), registered now, S/N 172S8827, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- 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: 172S8827
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Dulles Aviation
- Registered owner: Dulles Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HEF, MANASSAS, VA
- Destination: CHO, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
- Airport: CHO, Charlottesville-Albemarle, runway 21

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 46 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: CHO

## 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 20050719018819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050719018819A), Jul 19, 2005: Cessna 172S, Charlottesville, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] was the PIC of N3537B, a CE-172S, on his first solo cross country flight to Charlottesville, VA (cho). The weather was…

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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