# NTSB LAX87LA349: Cessna 172P, N5366K, Santa Monica, CA, September 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1987, 09:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Coordinates: 34.010513, -118.459625 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0105&lon=-118.4596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA349
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25700/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA349

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - level off - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT, ON HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, EXECUTED TWO FULL STOP LANDINGS WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON THE NEXT LANDING, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPARENTLY CAUGHT A GUST OF WIND AND BALLOONED. HE INDICATED THAT HE OVER-CORRECTED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN INTO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO IT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5366K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5366K), registered now, S/N 17274084, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274084
- Airframe hours: 3670
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: American Flyers
- Registered owner: Ate Of New York, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 12, 1987, 50 hours before
- Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 3, 4,987 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 10 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 19870922058679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870922058679A), Sep 22, 1987: Cessna 172P, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot made a hard landing. First solo flight. Bounced then landed heavily on the runway.

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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