# NTSB LAX07CA162: Cessna R172E, N9274Z, Dayton, NV, May 12, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 12, 2007, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Dayton, NV
- Coordinates: 39.237777, -119.562225
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2378&lon=-119.5622&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65776/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA162

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a 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)
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The airplane landed hard during a touch-and-go landing.  The pilot said that on the second landing attempt, he flared too high (about 10 feet above the runway surface) and the airplane touched down hard.  The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.  The firewall and right wing sustained damage during impact.

## Factual narrative

The airplane landed hard during the pilot's attempted touch-and-go takeoff and landing.  In a written statement, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings at a nearby airport.  On the second landing attempt, the pilot maneuvered the airplane into a flare too high (about 10 feet above the runway surface).  The airplane touched down hard.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.  The firewall and right wing sustained damage during impact.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9274Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9274Z), registered now, S/N R172-0219 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna R172E
- Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-d) (registry code 17149, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R172-0219
- Engines: Continental IO-360-D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Specline Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: CXP, Carson City, NV
- Destination: A34, Dayton, NV
- Airport: A34, Dayton Valley Airpark, runway 23, 5,351 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,037 total, 7 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 20070512012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070512012269A), May 12, 2007: Cessna 172R, Dayton/Carson, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) N9274Z, Cessna C172, sustained substantial firewall damage after a hard landing on runway 23 at Dayton Valley Airpark, NV, at 120700PDT. The pilot…

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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