# NTSB LAX95LA133: Cessna 172P, N51920, Redlands, CA, February 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 20, 1995, 16:30 local (Feb 21, 1995, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Redlands, CA - Coordinates: 34.000007, -117.119834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0000&lon=-117.1198&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, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29053 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29053/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA133 ## Probable cause the pilot's use of an excessive approach speed and glidepath angle and his improper bounced landing recovery technique. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed ## Analysis GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 26 AND SAID IT WAS HIGH AND FAST. ABOUT MIDFIELD, THE PILOT DOVE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON THE NOSE GEAR, ENTERED A PORPOISE, AND EVENTUALLY COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR STRUT. ## Factual narrative On February 20, 1995, at 1630 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172P, N51920, collapsed the nose gear following a porpoise from a bounced landing at Redlands, California. The aircraft was operated by Redlands Aviation Corporation of Redlands and rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at San Luis Obispo, California, on the day of the accident at 1410. Ground witnesses observed the aircraft on final for runway 26 and said it was high and fast. About midfield, the pilot dove the aircraft to the runway and the aircraft bounced on the nose gear, entered a porpoise, and eventually collapsed the nose gear strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51920](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51920), registered now, S/N 17274377, built 1980 (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: 17274377 - Airframe hours: 7522 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-ACJ 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Redlands Aviation Corporation - Registered owner: Gary R. Wilson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 22, 1994, 87 hours before - Departed: SBP, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Destination: L12 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: L12, Redlands Municipal, runway 26, 4,505 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 51 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19950220004499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950220004499A), Feb 20, 1995: Cessna 172P, Redlands, CA, Substantial damage. Narrative: on the landing prior to this incident, the pilot landed at santa barbara and stated that he felt a thump or a "porpoise" during landing roll out. On… ## Other investigations on N51920 (1) 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 LAX89LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA272), Aug 13, 1989: Cessna 172P (N51920), Redlands, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LEVEL-OFF, RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. THE PILOT'S LIMITED RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. 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.