# NTSB LAX04CA059: Cessna 172N, N75816, Winslow, AZ, November 9, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 9, 2003, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Winslow, AZ
- Coordinates: 35.021945, -110.722503
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0219&lon=-110.7225&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58456
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58456/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA059

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a pilot induced porpoise oscillation and hard 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 - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane landed hard and porpoised during the student pilot's solo cross-country flight, which damaged the firewall.  The pilot reported that he touched down on the main landing gear and positioned the yoke into the full aft position.  The airplane porpoised, and then landed hard.  The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.  The pilot felt that the accident could have been prevented if he had applied power after the porpoising began.

## Factual narrative

On December 5, 2003, about 0945 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N75816, experienced a hard landing at Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport (INW), Winslow, Arizona.  Bulwal Partnership 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 visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.  The student solo cross-country instructional flight originated from Cottonwood (P52), Arizona, at 0900.

The pilot reported in a written statement that during landing, he touched down on the main landing gear and positioned the yoke into the full aft position.  The airplane porpoised, and then landed hard.  The damage included a broken nose strut, propeller strike, and a bent firewall.

The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.  He felt that the accident could have been prevented if he had applied power after the porpoising began.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75816](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75816), registered now, S/N 17267973, 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: 17267973
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 Series reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: BULWAL Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: P52, Cottonwood, AZ
- Destination: INW, Winslow, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: INW, Winslow-Lindbergh Regional, runway 011

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 48 total, 48 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20031109033359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031109033359A), Nov 9, 2003: Cessna 172N, Winslow, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing pilot bounced. While attempting recovery from bounce pilot mismanaged controls resulting in porpoising and hard landing on nose wheel.…

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.

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