# NTSB LAX07CA202: Cessna 172S, N619TH, Spanish Fork, UT, July 3, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 3, 2007, 08:58 local (14:58 UTC)
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Coordinates: 40.141666, -111.661392
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1417&lon=-111.6614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66171
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66171/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA202

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged landing flare resulting in a porpoise and hard touchdown.

## 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
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged during a bounced landing.  The student touched down and the airplane entered a series of bounces.  The student pilot then performed a go-around.  The student's certified flight instructor witnessed the accident and he reported that the student's approach had looked normal.  Thereafter, the student returned for landing.  During the subsequent examination of the airplane, the nose wheel tire was observed flat, and the wheel's axle and the firewall were found bent.

## Factual narrative

On July 3, 2007, about 0858 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N619TH, landed hard at the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport, Spanish Fork, Utah.  The airplane was operated by Air Center of Salt Lake.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The student pilot was not injured during the solo instructional flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Salt Lake City, Utah, about 0805.

The pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he witnessed the mishap.  The CFI reported that he was standing near the departure end of runway 12 and noted that his student's final approach path appeared okay.  The airplane bounced during the landing several times and the student performed a go-around.  When the student subsequently landed the airplane, the nose tire was observed flat.  Upon further examination of the airplane, the nose wheel's axle and the firewall were found bent.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N619TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N619TH), registered now, S/N 172S10343, built 2006 (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: 172S10343
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air Center of Salt Lake
- Registered owner: J. Scott Hayes Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: U42, Salt Lake City, UT
- Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT
- Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20070703010889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070703010889A), Jul 3, 2007: Cessna 172S, Spanish Fork, UT, Minor damage. (-23) While landing at U77, student pilot bounced on attempted landing, on fourth attempt, aircraft had blown nose wheel tire. During tire inspection mechanic…

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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