# NTSB LAX93LA368: Cessna 172P, N98909, Phoenix, AZ, September 24, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1993, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.42958, -112.010734 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4296&lon=-112.0107&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 27, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28489/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA368 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE. A PHYSICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED. ## 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) - physical impairment, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS HE NEARED THE AIRPORT HE BEGAN TO FEEL ILL. WHILE OVERFLYING THE AIRPORT HE BLACKED OUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. AFTER HIS VISION RETURNED HE LANDED, BOUNCED, AND LANDED HARD. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT SUBSEQUENT MEDICAL TESTS ON THE PILOT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1993, at 0800 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172P, N98909, sustained a hard landing on runway 26L at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by Sawyer Aviation, Phoenix, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at an undetermined time; the flight departed Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona, at 0745 hours. The pilot submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He stated in the report that after departing Sky Harbor Airport he flew to Chandler Airport to practice touch and go takeoffs and landings. The last landing at Chandler was "rough" and he elected to return to Sky Harbor Airport. After entering the Class B airspace the pilot began to feel ill and momentarily lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness the pilot was able to land the airplane, but sustained a hard landing in the process. The operator reported that subsequent medical tests on the pilot could not determine the reason for the pilot's loss of consciousness. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98909](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98909-2008-01-22), registration cancelled 2008-01-22, S/N 17276377, 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: 17276377 - Airframe hours: 5176 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sawyer Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 11, 1993, 38 hours before - Departed: P10, CHANDLER, AZ - Airport: PHX, Phoenix Sky Harbor, runway 26L, 11,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 94 total, 9 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °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 19930924036379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930924036379A), Sep 24, 1993: Cessna 172P, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. Student pilot became ill approaching airport. Momentarilly lost consciousness. Recovered for hard landing. ## Other investigations on N98909 (2) 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. - [NTSB LAX00LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA031), Nov 2, 1999: Cessna 172N (N98909), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin, which resulted in a stall/mush and hard landing. - [NTSB LAX94LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA321), Aug 14, 1994: Cessna 172P (N98909), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudging the flare altitude and failing to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. The pilot's lack of total time in the airplane is a factor in… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.