# NTSB IAD98LA045: Cessna 172N, N734MN, Stevensville, MD, April 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 1998, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MD - Coordinates: 38.99065, -76.299034 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9907&lon=-76.2990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28288/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA045 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare, improper recover from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain directional control. ## 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) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - wind sock/indicator ## Analysis A witness reported the airplane landed hard on the nose wheel and continued to bounce down the runway. Each bounce increased in severity and magnitude. The pilot lost directional control, and the airplane departed the runway and struck a wind direction indicator to the right of the landing surface. The pilot said he applied right rudder during the landing, but did not recall applying brakes. He reported the airplane had no mechanical deficiencies. An operational check of the airplane's braking system by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed no discrepancies. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 1998, at 1740 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734MN, was substantially damaged when it collided with a wind direction indicator during landing at the Bay Bridge Airport (W29), Stevensville, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Culpepper, Virginia (CJR), at 1630. A Visual Flight Rules flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated the flight from CJR to W29 was uneventful and he entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for Runway 29. While on final approach, he set full flaps and established an airspeed of 60 knots. He said: "Everything was perfect. I flared and it bounced once or twice a little bit. Then it skidded to the right and went into the grass. The wing struck the wind 'T', went into the ditch and turned around...I don't remember applying the brakes. I did have right rudder in." An experienced pilot witnessed the accident and was interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector. According to the Inspector's Record of Telephone Call, the witness stated: "I saw the airplane come in on runway 29. The pilot let the nose wheel hit first and it hit pretty hard. It started bouncing, three or four times, severe bouncing, increasing in magnitude. Immediately after the bouncing stopped, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane and it veered immediately to the right and left [departed] the runway. It went into a gully and hit the wind tee, the airplane bounced and turned around 180 degrees." The FAA Inspector described the skid marks on the runway in a written statement. He said: "The right skid mark (facing in the direction of runway 29) was most pronounced and was approximately 30 to 40 feet long. It was to the right of the centerline and it veered to the right towards the wind tee on the right side of the runway." When questioned about the airworthiness of the airplane, the pilot stated he found no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane during his preflight inspection or during the flight. He stated: "It was in perfect shape, absolutely no problem. The engine sounded perfect and the flight controls were normal." In a telephone interview, an FAA Airworthiness Inspector who examined the wreckage stated he found no pre-impact anomalies. He further stated the airplane's braking system was checked and found to operate with no deficiencies. Winds reported at Easton, Maryland, 14 miles southeast of W29, were from 330 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734MN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734MN), registered now, S/N 17268961, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - 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: 17268961 - Airframe hours: 4958 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Safety Flight Training - Registered owner: R&S Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 1997, 68 hours before - Departed: CJR, CULPEPPER, VA - Destination: W29, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: W29, Bay Bridge, runway 29, 2,910 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 13 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ESN, 15 nm away ## 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 19980412006549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980412006549A), Apr 12, 1998: Cessna 172N, Stevensville, MD, Substantial damage. Landed nose first. Bounced and porpoised. Veered off runway. Struck wind tee. (.4)a witness reported the airplane landed hard on the nose wheel and continued… 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.