# NTSB LAX03LA170: Cessna 172S, N5329L, Kapolei, HI, May 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 2003, 10:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Kapolei, HI - Coordinates: 21.307222, -158.070281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.3072&lon=-158.0703&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): 57106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA170 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare, and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the airplane. ## 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) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The student pilot was on her first solo flight. On her first landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to porpoise down the runway. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, damaging the nose landing gear and firewall. The student pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2003, about 1020 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 172S, N5329L, landed hard and porpoised down the runway before coming to rest on its nose at Kalaeloa Airport/John Rogers Field, Kapolei, Hawaii. The airplane was owned and operated by Flight School Hawaii, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The local supervised solo instructional flight departed Kapolei about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. According to the manager at Flight School Hawaii, this was the student's first supervised solo. Prior to the accident she had been doing pattern work with her certified flight instructor (CFI), which included five takeoffs and landings. No discrepancies were noted with the student's landings. On the accident landing, the first solo landing, the airplane landed hard and began to porpoise down the runway. The student was unable to initiate a recovery before the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest on its nose. During the accident, the airplane incurred damage to the firewall and nose landing gear. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5329L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5329L-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 172S9332, built 2003 (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: 172S9332 - Airframe hours: 141 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight School Hawaii, Inc. - Registered owner: Makani Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 2003, 39 hours before - Departed: JRF, KAPOLEI, HI - Destination: JRF, KAPOLEI, HI - Airport: JRF, Kalaeloa Airport (John Rodgers, runway 04L, 4,500 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: JRF ## 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 20030529013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030529013179A), May 29, 2003: Cessna 172S, Kapolei, HI, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight instructor stated that after completing five (5) unassisted takeoffs and landings the student pilot was cleared for solo flight. On the first… ## Other investigations on N5329L (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 WPR10CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA019), Oct 17, 2009: Cessna 172S (N5329L), Honolulu, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of airplane control after the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll. - [NTSB LAX08LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA283), Jul 30, 2008: Cessna 172 (N5329L), Honolulu, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight's encounter with the jet wash from a parked commercial airplane while taxiing for takeoff. 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.