# NTSB LAX96LA209: Cessna 172, N8811B, Marana, AZ, May 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 1996, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Marana, AZ - Coordinates: 32.449329, -111.290939 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4493&lon=-111.2909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 17, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29451 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29451/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA209 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane sustained a hard landing, bounced, and began to porpoise. On the second touchdown, the airplane struck the ground in a nose down attitude and buckled the firewall, but the pilot was able to stop the airplane. The pilot said that the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures. He also said that a ground witness observed a dust devil about 200 feet from the airport. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 1996, at 1030 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N8811B, sustained a hard landing at Taylor Airstrip, Marana, Arizona, while on a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, at 1000 hours. This accident was originally reported as an incident. During the repair the mechanic found that the firewall was buckled, resulting in major structural damage. An FAA inspector from the Scottsdale [Arizona] Flight Standards District Office reported that the pilot said he bounced two times during the landing sequence. On the second touchdown, the airplane's nose gear struck the ground. The pilot repeated his statement in the accident report. He added that a ground witness told him that he saw a dust devil about 200 feet from the airport. The pilot also indicated in the accident report that the airplane did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures, and that he should have executed a go-around after the airplane bounced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8811B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8811B), registered now, S/N 36511, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36511 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy J. Allen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 1995, 24 hours before - Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ - Destination: 0AZ1 - Airport: runway 32, 3,200 × 80 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 166 total, 57 in this make and model, 106 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °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 19960504015889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960504015889A), May 4, 1996: Cessna 172, Marana, AZ, Substantial damage. Bounced on hard landing. Failed to go around. Damaged nose gear and buckled firewall. Dust devils reported in area. ## Other investigations on N8811B (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 FTW69D0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69D0066), Apr 9, 1968: Cessna 172 (N8811B), Junction, TX, substantial damage 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.