# NTSB IAD96LA125: Cessna 172M, N172PS, Cincinnati, OH, August 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 1996, 17:01 local (21:01 UTC) - Place: Cincinnati, OH - Location: 39.1030° N, 84.4176° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CINCINNATI MUNI/LUNKEN FLD (LUK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1030&lon=-84.4176&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28092 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28092/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA125 ## Probable cause failure of the student pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a stall/spin and an uncontrolled collision with the ground. A factor related to the accident was: an improper (premature) flare for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - touch-and-go - initiated, pilot in command - flare - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The student pilot was on her first solo flight. She was instructed by her flight instructor (CFI) to make 3 touch-and-go landings and one full stop landing while he watched. For her first touch-and-go, she departed on the left parallel runway. For traffic considerations, the tower controller cleared her to runway 21R for her first landing. Her execution of the landing on 21R was uneventful. During climb-out, the tower controller cleared her back to runway 21L. On her second attempted landing, she flared 20 or more feet above the surface of the runway. Realizing her error, she attempted to apply full throttle and lowered the nose to gain airspeed until she could retract the wing flaps, which were fully extended. She attempted to execute a go-around; however, the aircraft stalled. Reportedly, it veered to the left, pitched down and did a complete reversal before coming to rest well east of runway 21L. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 4, 1996, at about 1701 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N172PS, operated by ASAP Aviation International Inc., crashed off the side of runway 21L while a student pilot was practicing solo touch & go landings at the Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio. The student pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to this case the flight departed Lunken Airport (LUK) at about 1600, for the purpose of VFR dual flight instruction. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) flew east into the local practice area with his student for the purpose of proficiency and evaluation in preparation for solo. At the completion of the dual session in the practice area, the CFI instructed his student to return to Lunken Airport. Upon arriving at LUK, the CFI required his student to complete several touch and goes. Satisfying himself that his student was prepared for her first supervised solo, he endorsed the student's log book and the back of her student pilot certificate. The student pilot, now acting as the pilot in command, taxied out for a departure on runway 21 Left at LUK. She was instructed to make 3 touch and goes and a full stop landing. On her first touch and go she departed on the left parallel runway. For traffic considerations, LUK tower moved her over to 21 Right for her first landing. Her execution of the landing on runway 21R was uneventful. On her climb out LUK tower moved her back over to runway 21L, the original planned runway for all subsequent touch and goes. On her second attempted landing she flared 20 or more feet above the surface of the runway. Realizing her error, she attempted to apply full throttle, pitch the nose over to gain airspeed until she could retract the wing flaps, which were fully extended. She attempted to execute a go-around. Her pitch over was insufficient and she stalled the aircraft. The aircraft veered to the left, pitched down and upon impact with the ground did a complete reversal before coming to rest east of runway 21L. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION/DOCUMENTATION The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right wind, right main gear, empannage and propeller, as a result of the impact. No pre-existing damage or system failures were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N172PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172PS-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N 17264139 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17264139 - Airframe hours: 2811 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Asap Aviation International In - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 1996, 15 hours before - Departed: LUK - Destination: LUK - Airport: LUK, Cincinnati-Lunken, runway 21L, 6,102 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLU ## 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 19960804020689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960804020689A), Aug 4, 1996: Cessna 172M, Cincinnati, OH, Substantial damage. On solo touch and go landing student flared too high. Added power to go around and stalled. Veered left hit ground. (-23) during student first supervised solo,… 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.