# NTSB LAX03CA248: Cessna 172S, N787WW, Phoenix, AZ, July 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2003, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.688331, -112.082496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-SDL-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57608 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03CA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57608/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA248 ## Probable cause The student's misjudged landing flare and inadvertent entry into a porpoise pilot-induced oscillation. ## 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 - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane porpoised during landing. As a result, the firewall and engine mounts were bent. The student reported that he had been practicing maneuvers in the practice area and was returning to the airport to land. He extended his downwind leg due to traffic in the pattern and entered final approach "a little high." He "flared too high, slowed, and landed flat." Then, he "porpoised airplane and landed nose gear first on [the] second touchdown." He felt the damage occured on the second touchdown. He then performed a go-around, did a second go-around after being too high on final, and landed on the third approach without difficulty. The student did not report any mechanical difficulties with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2003, about 0800 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N787WW, porpoised during landing at Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. As a result, the firewall and engine mounts were bent. Westwind Aviation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the local area instructional flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from Deer Valley at 0700. In a written statement, the student reported that he had been practicing maneuvers in the practice area and was returning to Deer Valley to land. He extended his downwind leg due to traffic in the pattern and entered final approach "a little high." He "flared too high, slowed, and landed flat." Then, he "porpoised [the] airplane and landed nose gear first on [the] second touchdown." He felt the damage occured on the second touchdown. He then performed a go-around, did a second go-around after being too high on final, and landed on the third approach without difficulty. The student did not report any mechanical difficulties with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N787WW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N787WW), registered now, S/N 172S8589, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258589 - Airframe hours: 2086.7 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind Aviation - Registered owner: Executives International Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2003, 40.2 hours before - Departed: KDVT, Phoenix, AZ - Airport: KDVT, Deer Valley, runway 7L ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 88 total, 88 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KDVT ## 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 20030710036549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030710036549A), Jul 10, 2003: Cessna 172S, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that following a solo flight in the local practice area he turned final approach a little high. During landing, student porpoised and landed… 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.