# NTSB LAX92LA140: Cessna 172P, N98662, Santa Monica, CA, March 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 9, 1992, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Coordinates: 34.009975, -118.459365 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0100&lon=-118.4594&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 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27574/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA140

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HER IMPROPER BOUNCED LANDING RECOVERY TECHNIQUE.  CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE AIRPLANE'S EXCESSIVE APPROACH AIRSPEED AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

## 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)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - fuselage,firewall - bent
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING HER SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE THIRD OF THREE LANDINGS.  SHE INDICATED THAT ALTHOUGH HER LANDING APPROACH HAD BEEN 'STABILIZED' THE AIRSPEED WAS 'EXCESSIVE,' AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED.  THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO OBSERVED THE MISHAP, REPORTED THAT A 'SEVERE PORPOISE ACTION' COMMENCED DURING THE LANDING.  THE FIREWALL WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98662](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98662-2011-11-09), registration cancelled 2011-11-09, S/N 17276331, built 1985 (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: 17276331
- Airframe hours: 7119
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: American Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner: Ate Of New York, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 7, 1992, 5 hours before
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920309005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920309005719A), Mar 9, 1992: Cessna 172P, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised on third landing of second supervised solo. Damaged firewall bulkhead.

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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