# NTSB LAX94LA215: Cessna 172N, N2946E, Sedona, AZ, April 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 1994, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Sedona, AZ - Coordinates: 34.940521, -111.939109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9405&lon=-111.9391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 3, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28737 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28737/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA215 ## Probable cause THE CFI'S IMPROPER LEVEL OFF DURING LANDING. THE TAILWIND 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 - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - level off - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS DEMONSTRATING A SHORT FIELD LANDING TO HIS STUDENT ON RUNWAY 3 WITH A KNOWN TAILWIND COMPONENT OF 6-10 KTS. DURING FLARE THE EXPECTED GROUND EFFECT CUSHION WAS NOT EVIDENT, AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD DAMAGING THE FIREWALL. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 1994, at 1300 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N2946E, landed hard during a short field landing demonstration at the Sedona, Arizona, airport. Subsequent inspection of the aircraft revealed substantial internal structural damage. The aircraft was operated by Aerovision, Inc., of Sedona, Arizona, and was on a local area dual instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. Neither the certificated commercial pilot flight instructor nor the dual primary student were injured. The flight originated at the Sedona airport on the day of the accident at 1230 hours. In his written statement, the flight instructor said he was demonstrating a short field landing to his student on runway 3 with a known tailwind component of 6 to 10 knots. The instructor said that during the flare the expected ground effect cushion was not evident and the aircraft landed hard. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the accident on May 10, 1994, by the operator after the extent of the damage was discovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2946E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2946E), registered now, S/N 17271380, built 1978 (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: 17271380 - Airframe hours: 6010 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aerovision - Registered owner: Aerovision - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1994, 10 hours before - Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,678 total, 112 in this make and model, 1,385 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °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 19940422010549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940422010549A), Apr 22, 1994: Cessna 172N, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. CFI demostrating short field landing in a quartering tailwind. No ground effect. Landed hard. Structural damage. ## Other investigations on N2946E (3) 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 LAX91LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA336), Jul 31, 1991: Cessna 172N (N2946E), Sedona, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GO-AROUND COURSE OVER THE RUNWAY. - [NTSB SEA81DYE37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81DYE37), Sep 8, 1981: Cessna 172 (N2946E), Bremerton, WA, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA81FYE18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FYE18), Feb 23, 1981: Cessna 172 (N2946E), Seattle, WA, substantial damage 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.