# NTSB LAX97LA048: Cessna 172P, N26FR, Mesa, AZ, November 20, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 1996, 15:56 local (22:56 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.510295, -111.58097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5103&lon=-111.5810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29688
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29688/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA048

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudged landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery technique, which led to an inadvertent porpoise.

## 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)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

the pilot landed hard on the nose wheel then porpoised up and allowed the aircraft to settle by itself and roll off the runway.  The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident and that weather was not a factor.

## Factual narrative

On November 20, 1996, at 1556 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172P, N26FR, operated by Superstition Air Service, Inc., of Mesa, Arizona, departed the runway at Falcon Field after landing nose wheel first and porpoising.  The aircraft received substantial damage in the hard landing and subsequent departure from the runway.  The certificated private pilot, who was practicing landings at the time of the accident, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight originated and terminated at Falcon field.

In her written report, the pilot stated that "I hit hard on the nose wheel then porpoised up [and] I just allowed the aircraft to settle by itself.  Eventually the aircraft slowly rolled off [the runway.]"  The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident and that weather was not a factor.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N26FR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275776
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Superstition Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1996, 65 hours before
- Departed: FFZ
- Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field, runway 22R, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 10 in this make and model, 51 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19961120036199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961120036199A), Nov 20, 1996: Cessna 172P, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Landed nose gear first. Porpoised. Failed use proper recovery procedure. Drifted off 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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