# NTSB LAX95LA182: Cessna 172N, N39ES, Stockton, CA, May 9, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1995, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Stockton, CA
- Location: 37.8944° N, 121.2387° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at STOCKTON METRO (SCK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8944&lon=-121.2387&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29090
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29090/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA182

## Probable cause

the failure of the pilot to properly judge the landing flare, and his improper bounced landing recovery technique, which resulted in a landing gear collapse during a hard landing.

## 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)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. GROUND WITNESSES STATED THAT THE PILOT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BOUNCED, THEN TOUCHED DOWN A SECOND TIME, COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TWO RUNWAY MARKERS AS IT GROUND LOOPED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## Factual narrative

On May 9, 1995, at 1550 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N39ES, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Stockton, California.  The aircraft was owned and operated by Port City Aviation, Inc., and was completing the return leg of a cross-country flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the operation.  Neither the certificated private pilot nor his three passengers were injured.  The return leg originated from the Meadows Field airport, Bakersfield, California, at 1430 on the day of the accident.

The aircraft was cleared for a full stop landing on runway 29L.  Witnesses stated that the pilot touched down hard, bounced, then touched down a second time, collapsing the right main landing gear.  The aircraft yawed right, struck two runway markers, and ground looped off the right side of the runway.  Automated terminal information service (ATIS) "Charlie" was in effect.  At the time of the accident ATIS was reporting winds from 020 degrees at 10 knots.

The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39ES](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39ES-2006-09-20), registration cancelled 2006-09-20, S/N 17269233, 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: 17269233
- Airframe hours: 5368
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Port City Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 21, 1995, 46 hours before
- Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Destination: SCK, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SCK, Stockton Metro, runway 29L, 2,996 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 6 in this make and model, 29 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SCK

## 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 19950509010899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950509010899A), May 9, 1995: Cessna 172N, Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. Hard landing. Bounced. Collapsed right main landing gear. Hit two markers and ground looped off side of runway.

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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