# NTSB LAX05CA028: Cessna 172S, N20519, Chandler, AZ, November 5, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 5, 2004, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.29861, -111.915832
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2986&lon=-111.9158&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60510/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA028

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.  Contributing factors were his improper recovery from the subsequent bounced landing and pilot-induced oscillations.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - runway
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During the solo instructional flight, the student pilot landed hard, which resulted in deformation of the airplane's firewall.  A witness observed the pilot's landing and reported that following the first touchdown, three additional pilot-induced oscillations occurred.  During this event engine power increased, and the elevator moved up and down.  On the third bounce, the witness heard the airplane's propeller impact the runway.  The student pilot, who had about 2.2 hours of total solo flying experience, did not report any mechanical malfunction with the airplane during the accident flight.

## Factual narrative

On November 5, 2004, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N20519, made a hard landing on runway 35 at the Stellar Airpark, Chandler, Arizona.  Angel Air, Inc., Chandler, operated the airplane.  The student pilot was not injured during the solo instructional flight.  The airplane sustained substantial damage.  The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  No flight plan was filed.  The flight originated from Chandler about 0730.

A fixed base operator located at the Stellar Airpark reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he heard the airplane bounce during the landing mishap.  Thereafter, the witness redirected his attention toward the airplane.  The witness reported that he observed three additional pilot-induced oscillations, heard the engine power increase, and observed the elevator move up and down.  On the third bounce, the witness heard the airplane's propeller impact the runway.  On the fourth and final bounce, the airplane skidded to a halt about midfield.

The firewall was observed bent during the subsequent airplane inspection.  The student pilot, who had about 2.2 hours of total solo flying experience, did not report any mechanical malfunction with the airplane during the accident flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20519](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20519), registered now, S/N 172S9576, built 2004 (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: 172S9576
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Angel Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Scheel Aircraft Leasing, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: P19, Chandler, AZ
- Destination: P19, Chandler, AZ
- Airport: P19, Stellar Airpark, runway 35

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 71; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 48 total, 48 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 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 20041105034869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041105034869A), Nov 5, 2004: Cessna 172S, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot did not execute proper recovery on bounced landing resulting in pio. Aircraft received prop strike and bent fire wall.

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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