# NTSB LAX90LA177: Cessna 172N, N251ER, Cottonwood, AZ, May 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1990, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.750133, -112.009643 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7501&lon=-112.0096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26806
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26806/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA177

## Probable cause

PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS DURING THE GO-AROUND MANEUVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, descent
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT (SP) WAS ON HER FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOTED TO BE TOO HIGH. THE SP ENTERED A SLIP TO LOSE THE ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BOUNCED ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE SUPERVISING CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) INSTRUCTED THE SP TO GO-AROUND VIA A PORTABLE RADIO. THE SP INITIATED THE GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOTED TO CLIMB AND THEN DESCEND. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, THE SP RAISED THE FLAPS PREMATURELY. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY NOSE GEAR FIRST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N251ER (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271075
- Airframe hours: 4932
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4N 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Embry Riddle Aeronautical
- Registered owner: Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 27, 1990, 32 hours before
- Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 32, 4,250 × 75 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 65 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 19900507016539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900507016539A), May 7, 1990: Cessna 172N, Cottonwood, AZ, Substantial damage. Student on first solo bounced,porpoised, began go around. Dumped flaps,hit runway nose first and bent firewall.

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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