# NTSB LAX96LA071: Cessna 172M, N73601, Palm Springs, CA, December 13, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1995, 14:51 local (22:51 UTC)
- Place: Palm Springs, CA
- Coordinates: 33.849281, -116.560356 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8493&lon=-116.5604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA071

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate bounced landing recovery technique, which resulted in porpoising during a downwind emergency landing.  The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons was a factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

Tower personnel reported that the aircraft departed runway 31L and had reached 300 to 500 feet above ground level when the pilot radioed that he was experiencing engine difficulty.  The pilot made a right 180-degree turn and was cleared to land on parallel runway 13L.  The aircraft landed long on the runway and porpoised/bounced, collapsing the nosegear assembly.  The aircraft came to rest upright at the departure end of runway 13L.  The surface wind was northwesterly at 8 knots.

## Factual narrative

On December 13, 1995, at 1451 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N73601, collapsed the nose gear assembly during a forced landing on runway 13L at Palm Springs Regional Airport, Palm Springs, California.  The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the private pilot was uninjured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, local area flight, and no flight plan was filed.

Personnel from the Palm Springs Air Traffic Control Tower reported that the aircraft departed runway 31L and had reached 300 to 500 feet above ground level when the pilot radioed that he was experiencing "engine difficulty."  The pilot made a right 180-degree turn and was cleared to land on parallel runway 13L.  The aircraft landed long on the runway and porpoised/bounced, collapsing the nose gear assembly.  The aircraft came to rest upright at the departure end of runway 13L.  The surface wind was northwesterly at 8 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73601](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73601), registered now, S/N 17267570, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267570
- Airframe hours: 2438
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John J. Mcquade
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1995, 12 hours before
- Departed: PSP
- Destination: TRM, THERMAL, CA
- Airport: PSP, Palm Springs Regional, runway 31L, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 711 total, 671 in this make and model, 604 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PSP

## 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 19951213040519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951213040519A), Dec 13, 1995: Cessna 172M, Palm Springs, CA, Substantial damage. Reported engine problem on climbout. Reversed course and made hard downwind landing on 13L. Porpoised. Folded gear.

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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