# NTSB LAX01LA267: Cessna 172S, N3532T, Scottsdale, AZ, July 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2001, 16:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.626945, -111.900001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6269&lon=-111.9000&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 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 52895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52895/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA267 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which lead to a hard landing, inadvertent porpoise, and his improper recovery from a bounced 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) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After touchdown the airplane bounced into the air, landed hard, and collapsed the nose landing gear. The purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The pilot had been conducting closed pattern work for an hour, and indicated that there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2001, at 1625 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N3532T, porpoised during landing on runway 21 and collapsed the nose landing gear at the Scottsdale Airport, Scottsdale, Arizona. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight had originated at 1530. The Safety Board investigator interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. He had been doing closed pattern work for about an hour prior to the accident, with no mechanical difficulties noted with the airplane. The pilot stated that after the airplane touched down, it "hopped" a little, like a gust of wind had picked it up. It came back down and then "shot" up into the air. The airplane landed hard and the nose landing gear collapsed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3532T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3532T), registered now, S/N 172S8820 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8820 - Airframe hours: 177 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James B. Elia - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 13, 2001, 83 hours before - Departed: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Destination: SDL, Scottsdale, AZ - Airport: SDL, Scottsdale, runway 21, 8,249 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 3, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 245 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: SDL ## 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 20010729017869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010729017869A), Jul 29, 2001: Cessna 172S, Scottsdale, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 29, 2001, at 1625 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N3532T, porpoised during landing on runway 21 and collapsed the nose landing gear… 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.