# NTSB IAD96LA084: Cessna 172M, N73664, Findlay, OH, May 13, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1996, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Findlay, OH
- Coordinates: 41.039806, -83.640983 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0398&lon=-83.6410&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 22, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28056
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28056/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA084

## Probable cause

the student pilot's misjudged flare during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

The student pilot, who was on a solo cross-country, stated that while landing he '...flared [too] early causing the plane to balloon up, and then the aircraft stalled.  The aircraft slammed to the ground before I could apply throttle.'   He reported that the airplane '...was approximately 5-10 feet above the runway...' when it stalled.

## Factual narrative

On May 13, 1996, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N73664, operated by a student pilot on a solo cross country instructional flight, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Findlay Airport, in Findlay, Ohio.  The solo student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed.  The solo cross country flight, operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Wooster, Ohio, at 1650, with planned landings at Findlay, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio.

The student pilot stated that upon arrival at the Findlay Airport,  the airplane was "...coming in for a landing and flared [too] early causing the plane to balloon up, and then the aircraft stalled.  The aircraft slammed to the ground before I could apply throttle. "  The student pilot stated that the airplane "...was probably 5-10 feet above the runway..." when it stalled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73664](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73664-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N 17267600, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- 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: 73664
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: David L. Abshire
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1996, 42 hours before
- Departed: BJJ, WOOSTER, OH
- Destination: FDY, FINDLAY, OH
- Airport: FDY, Findlay, runway 36, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles

## 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 19960513020309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960513020309A), May 13, 1996: Cessna 172M, Findlay, OH, Substantial damage. Ballooned on fast landing on solo cross country flight. Stalled . Slammed onto runway. Failed use power to reflare. (-23) on 05/14/96, student pilot joshua…

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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