# NTSB LAX00LA031: Cessna 172N, N98909, Chandler, AZ, November 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 1999, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.42979, -112.009239 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4298&lon=-112.0092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47788/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in a stall/mush and 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 - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that he flared high and the airplane landed flat on all three landing gear and bounced three times. The nose tire went flat and the propeller contacted the ground. Subsequent inspection revealed the firewall was buckled. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the hard landing. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 1999, about 1140 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N98909, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Chandler, Arizona, municipal airport. Sawyer Aviation operated the airplane, which was rented by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area personal flight departed Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, about 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that he flared high and the airplane landed flat on all three landing gear and bounced three times. The nose tire went flat and the propeller contacted the ground. Subsequent inspection revealed the firewall was buckled. In his written statement, the pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98909](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98909-2008-01-22), registration cancelled 2008-01-22, S/N 17276377, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276377 - Airframe hours: 9811 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sawyer Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 1999, 49 hours before - Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: CHD - Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal, runway 4L, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 33 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 14 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IWA, 8 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 19991102031849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991102031849A), Nov 2, 1999: Cessna 172P, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On November 2, 1999, about 1140 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N98909, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Chandler,… ## Other investigations on N98909 (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 LAX94LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA321), Aug 14, 1994: Cessna 172P (N98909), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudging the flare altitude and failing to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. The pilot's lack of total time in the airplane is a factor in… - [NTSB LAX93LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA368), Sep 24, 1993: Cessna 172P (N98909), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE. A PHYSICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED. 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.