# NTSB LAX08CA149: Cessna 172N, N6521J, Palo Alto, CA, May 20, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 20, 2008, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.456665, -122.108886
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4567&lon=-122.1089&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68056
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68056/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA149

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that his approach to landing was unstable and that he added power on short final because he was too low and slow. When the landing gear touched down, the airplane began porpoising with "several hard bounces" down the runway, ultimately resulting in propeller strike damage, firewall damage, engine mount damage, and nose wheel damage.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that his approach to landing was unstable and that he added power on short final because he was too low and slow. When the landing gear touched down, the airplane began porpoising with "several hard bounces" down the runway, ultimately resulting in propeller strike damage, firewall damage, engine mount damage, and nose wheel damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6521J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6521J-2012-08-22), registration cancelled 2012-08-22, S/N 17273883, built 1980 (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: 17273883
- Airframe hours: 13255
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-O2G 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: West Valley Flying Club
- Registered owner: Steven & Andrea Blonstein
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2008
- Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Airport: PAO, Palo Alto Arpt Of Santa Clara, runway 31, 2,443 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; flight hours: 224 total, 5 in this make and model, 75 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: PAO

## 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 20080520836109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080520836109A), May 20, 2008: Cessna 172N, Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 10:30 am may 20, 2008, N621J, a Cessna 172N aircraft was conducting pattern work at the Palo Alto municipal airport (pao), Palo Alto…

## Other investigations on N6521J (1)

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 LAX91LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA312), Jul 14, 1991: Cessna 172N (N6521J), Mariposa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS PLANNED APPROACH. A DOWN-SLOPING RUNWAY SURFACE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

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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