# NTSB LAX95LA208: Cessna 172N, N73927, North Las Vegas, NV, June 12, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 12, 1995, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: North Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.210689, -115.120811 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2107&lon=-115.1208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29115/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA208

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. His misjudgment of the height above the runway during flare 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
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE THIRD TOUCH-AND-GO, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THE PILOT APPLIED THROTTLE TO RECOVER, BUT BOUNCED AGAIN. HE RELEASED BACK PRESSURE, THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN, AND THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN. HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND, NOT REALIZING THAT THE NOSE WHEEL TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT AND THE PROPELLER HAD STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT LANDED AND NOTICED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL TIRE WAS FLAT. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE FUSELAGE AND FIREWALL WERE BUCKLED.

## Factual narrative

On June 12, 1995, at 0700 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N73927, made a hard landing at North Las Vegas Air Terminal, North Las Vegas, Nevada.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured.  The aircraft was owned and operated by Nevada Aviation Components and was on a local solo flight when the accident occurred.  The flight originated at the North Las Vegas Air Terminal at about 0645 on the day of the accident.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings.  During the third touchdown the aircraft bounced several times.  The pilot stated that after his initial bounce he applied throttle to recover but bounced again.  He then released back pressure on the control wheel and the nose pitched down and the aircraft touched down again.  The pilot then elected to go-around, not realizing that the nose wheel tire had blown out and the propeller had struck the runway.  After completing the go-around, the pilot landed and noticed that his nose wheel tire was flat.  He then cleared the runway and called for assistance.

A postaccident inspection by the operator revealed buckling of the fuselage and firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73927](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73927), registered now, S/N 17267751, built 1976 (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: 17267751
- Airframe hours: 4450
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: William J. Street
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 6, 1995, 49 hours before
- Departed: VGT
- Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas Air Term., runway 7, 5,005 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 13 nm away

## 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 19950612017729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950612017729A), Jun 12, 1995: Cessna 172N, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Hard landing. Bounced and porpoised went around. On landing found blown nose tire. Bent prop firewall and fuselage.

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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