# NTSB LAX93LA193: Cessna 172N, N401KA, Santa Monica, CA, April 29, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1993, 11:29 local (18:29 UTC)
- Place: Santa Monica, CA
- Coordinates: 34.01078, -118.460639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0108&lon=-118.4606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27965/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA193

## Probable cause

THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM THE ENSUING BOUNCED LANDING. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY COLLAPSED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.  THE PILOT LANDED LONG WITH 1/3 TO 1/4 OF THE RUNWAY LENGTH REMAINING.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N401KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N401KA-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N 17268937, built 1977 (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: 68937
- Airframe hours: 3920
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: King Aviation
- Registered owner: Chrysilious, Chryilou
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 2, 1993, 65 hours before
- Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA
- Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Muni, runway 21, 4,987 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 557 total, 250 in this make and model, 474 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft broken
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMO, 1 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 19930429036809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930429036809A), Apr 29, 1993: Cessna 172N, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. Landed long and fast. Bounced and porpoised until nose wheel collapsed at end of runway. Slid off departure end.

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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