# NTSB LAX03LA053: Cessna 172N, N733AM, Pacoima, CA, December 21, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 2002, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Pacoima, CA - Coordinates: 34.265556, -118.413612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2656&lon=-118.4136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56236/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA053 ## Probable cause the student pilot's excessive use of the elevator control that resulted in an inadvertent lift-off and his failure to maintain/attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - roll - elevator - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a hard landing. The student pilot was on his first solo flight and attempting to perform practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On final approach the airplane was higher than normal, but the student pilot touched down without mishap. While on the landing roll, the airplane became airborne, climbing to about 15 to 20 feet above ground level. The airplane stalled and returned back down to the runway surface, hitting hard, with the nose wheel touching down first. The student pilot stated that he thought that he had applied too much backpressure on the yoke. The operator reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 2002, at 1400 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N733AM, experienced a hard landing at Whiteman Airport, Pacoima, California. Glendale Community College 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. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local instructional flight originated from Pacomia about 1355. In a written statement, the operator of the accident airplane reported that the student pilot was on his first solo flight and attempting to perform practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 21. After completing an uneventful takeoff, the student pilot flew a left traffic pattern and configured the airplane for landing. The airplane was higher than normal on final approach, but the airplane touched down without mishap. While on the landing roll, the airplane became airborne, climbing to about 15 to 20 feet above ground level. Upon returning back down to the runway surface, the airplane hit hard, with the nose wheel touching down first. Although the nose wheel blew out, the student pilot was able to taxi the airplane off the runway. The operator further stated that after landing, the student pilot stated that he thought that he had pulled back too much on the yoke. The airplane incurred damage to the firewall, propeller, and nose landing gear. The operator reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N733AM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N733AM), registered now, S/N 17268145, built 1976 (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: 17268145 - Airframe hours: 5367 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-320-H2A0 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Glendale Community College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 10, 2002, 57 hours before - Departed: WHP, Pacoima, CA - Airport: WHP, Whiteman Airport, runway 12, 4,120 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: BUR, 4 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 20021221034509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021221034509A), Dec 21, 2002: Cessna 172N, Pacoima, CA, Substantial damage. (.19)On December 21, 2002, at 1400 pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N733AM, made a hard landing at whiteman airport, Pacoima, California. The airplane was… ## Other investigations on N733AM (1) 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 LAX99LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA031), Nov 14, 1998: Cessna 172N (N733AM), Lancaster, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft. 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.