# NTSB LAX92LA106: Cessna 172N, N6087D, Cottonwood, AZ, January 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 1992, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.749992, -112.010818 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7500&lon=-112.0108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27548
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27548/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA106

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE BEGINNING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR WAS SATISFIED WITH HIS TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS THE INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED THE STUDENT PILOT TO SOLO.  THE STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS.  ON THE THIRD LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND TURNED SIDEWAYS.  THE STUDENT APPLIED POWER AND AFTER LIFT-OFF HE IMMEDIATELY RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED.  THE AIRPLANE SETTLED AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO CARTWHEEL OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6087D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272598
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Cottonwood Air Service
- Registered owner: Bullard, Stanley & Claudia R.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Airport: P52, Cottonwood Municipal, runway 32, 4,250 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 23 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRC, 23 nm away

## 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 19920129001359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920129001359A), Jan 29, 1992: Cessna 172N, Cottonwood, AZ, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing, turned sideways. Began go around but dumped flaps. Settled,dragged a wing and cartwheeled.

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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