# NTSB LAX02LA167: Cessna 172S, N3547H, Scottsdale, AZ, May 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2002, 11:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.622776, -111.910278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6228&lon=-111.9103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54745/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54745 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA167 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain directional control on the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a runway sign. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - 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) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis The airplane hit hard, bounced, veered off the runway, and the right main landing gear sheared off when the airplane collided with a runway marker sign. The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway into a dirt area. The student pilot attempted to turn the airplane to the right, back onto the runway. The airplane's right main landing gear strut collided with a runway marker sign, and the right main landing gear sheered off. The airplane continued veering to the right, across the runway, and departed the right side. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2002, about 1135 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N3547H, veered off the runway while attempting to land at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona Flight Works was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local instructional flight originated SDL about 1015. In a written statement, the operator of the accident airplane reported that the student pilot was attempting to perform practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 21. After completing several touch-and-go's, the student pilot configured the airplane for his last practice attempt. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway, into a dirt area. The student pilot attempted to turn the airplane to the right, back onto the runway. The airplane's right main landing gear strut collided with a runway marker sign, and the right main landing gear sheered off. The airplane continued veering to the right, across the runway, and departed the right side. The airplane came to rest in a dirt area off the right side of the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the horizontal tail spar. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3547H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3547H), registered now, S/N 172S8886 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8886 - Airframe hours: 404.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lebosix, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2002, 8.4 hours before - Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Destination: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Airport: KSDL, Scottsdale Airport, runway 21, 8,249 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: SDL ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54745. 356 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.