# NTSB LAX94LA321: Cessna 172P, N98909, Scottsdale, AZ, August 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1994, 18:15 local (Aug 14, 1994, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Scottsdale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.609142, -111.889633 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6091&lon=-111.8896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28827 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28827/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA321 ## 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 this accident. ## 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) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE ALTITUDE DURING LANDING AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 1.5 HOURS IN THE AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1994, at 1815 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172P, N98909, sustained a hard landing on runway 21 at Scottsdale Municipal Airport, Scottsdale, Arizona. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Sawyer Aviation, Phoenix, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. Neither the recently certificated private pilot nor either of the two passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, about 1700 hours. Mr. James Hackman, Sawyer Aviation, was interviewed via telephone by National Transportation Safety Board investigators on August 16, 1994. Mr. Hackman said the pilot reported that the approach speed and flare to the runway were normal, but the airplane, however, "suddenly dropped like a rock." The pilot taxied off the runway. Mr. Hackman also said that he contacted the local controller. The local controller reported that the approach speed and flare altitude appeared normal moments before it dropped. Safety Board investigators reviewed the recorded communications between Scottsdale Air Traffic Control Tower and N98909. The review revealed the pilot initially called the local controller at 1807:67 hours and reported that he was 8 miles southwest of the airport. The local controller cleared N98909 to land on runway 21 and cleared another airplane to land behind N98909. At 1815:54 hours, the local controller cleared N98909 to taxi to parking. At 1816:07, an unidentified voice said "that airplane looks a little bent there"; another unidentified voice responded "yeah, I see that." The communications medium also revealed that the airplane following N98909, a Beach BE-55, landed without incident. There were no communications from any pilots before or after the accident suggesting any windshear conditions. The reported surface winds were from 270 degrees at 15 knots. ## 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: 5784 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sawyer Aviation - Registered owner: Sawyer Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 16, 1994, 49 hours before - Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ - Airport: SDL, Scottsdale Municipal, runway 21, 8,251 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 2 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SDL ## 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 19940813032799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940813032799A), Aug 13, 1994: Cessna 172P, Scottsdale, AZ, Substantial damage. Flared too high dropped to runway and bent the 172. No windshear reported. ## 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 LAX93LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA368), Sep 24, 1993: Cessna 172P (N98909), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE LANDING FLARE. A PHYSICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED. 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.