# NTSB LAX96LA062: Cessna 172N, N739LD, Winslow, AZ, December 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 1995, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Winslow, AZ - Coordinates: 35.099185, -110.640876 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0992&lon=-110.6409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29347 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29347/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA062 ## Probable cause the student pilot's use of an excessive airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing, a porpoise, and a collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - electrical system,electric wiring - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc - electrical system - failure,total - lowering of flaps - not possible, pilot in command - airspeed(vref) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AND DIVERTED FROM THE PLANNED DESTINATION TO A CLOSER AIRPORT. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FLAP SYSTEM DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN FAST, BOUNCED, AND LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WIRING HARNESS WHICH PREVENTED THE ALTERNATOR FROM CHARGING THE BATTERY. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 1995, at 0900 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N739LD, operated by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), made a hard landing at the Winslow Municipal Airport, Winslow, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the solo instructional flight, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Prescott, Arizona, at 0730. The 44-hour student pilot experienced a loss of electrical power while on a solo cross-country flight to Gallup, New Mexico. The pilot elected to divert to Winslow. The student pilot was unable to lower the electrically operated flaps during the landing approach. A fast no-flap landing was made on runway 04. The airplane porpoised several times collapsing the nose gear and damaging the firewall. Examination of the airplane by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed a loose electrical connection in the airplane's electrical system. The plastic connector on the wiring harness from the voltage regulator to the alternator was found loose. The loose connection would have prevented the airplane's battery from charging. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739LD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739LD), registered now, S/N 17270620 (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: 17270620 - Airframe hours: 7004 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4N 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 27, 1995, 16 hours before - Departed: PRC, PRESCOTT, AZ - Destination: GUP, GALLUP, NM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: INW, Winslow Municipal, runway 4, 7,498 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 65 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19951205039999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951205039999A), Dec 5, 1995: Cessna 172N, Winslow, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost electric power en route. Diverted to inw for hard no flap landing. Porpoised folded nose gear. Loose wire. 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.