# NTSB LAX97LA295: Cessna 172N, N3266E, Prescott, AZ, August 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 1997, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Prescott, AZ - Coordinates: 34.620677, -112.419029 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6207&lon=-112.4190&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29878/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA295 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate 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 - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot landed hard and flat. The aircraft porpoised, pitched over, and struck the ground in a nose-low attitude. The airplane bounced back up, landed hard, and came to rest upright on the runway. According to the flight school's operations manual, solo pilots are prohibited from landing on runway 3L/21R except when necessary for the safety of flight, because there are 10-feet-deep drainage ditches that run along either side of the runway. The school reported that they had been informed that runway 3R/21L would be closed at 1200 and only 3L/21R would be available. The school flight supervisor stated that he ensured that all solo students would be back prior to the runway closure; however, the airport closed the runways 30 minutes early and the flight school was not informed. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 1997, at 1140 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N3266E, landed hard at the Ernest A. Love Field, Prescott, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was operated by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Holbrook, Arizona at 1033. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that Prescott Air Traffic Control Tower asked him to make left traffic for runway 3L. He replied that he was "unable" to land on runway 3L, due to the fact that the flight school prohibits solo pilots from landing on that runway except when necessary for the safety of flight. The tower responded that runway 3L was the only runway available because of airport construction activity. The pilot reported that he elected to perform a go-around on the first landing attempt. On the second attempt, he noted that his ". . . approach was good, but his speed was a little high." He landed hard and flat. The aircraft bounced back into the air, then pitched over and struck the ground in a nose-low attitude. The airplane bounced up a second time, landed hard, and came to rest upright on the runway. The flight school reported that according to their operations manual, solo pilots are prohibited from landing on runway 3L/21R except when necessary for the safety of flight, due to the fact that there are drainage ditches approximately 10 feet deep along either side of the runway. The school reported that they had been informed that runways 3R/21L and 12/30 would be closed at 1200 and only 3L/21R would be available. The school flight supervisor stated that he ensured that all solo students would be back prior to the closure; however, the airport closed the runways 30 minutes early and the flight school was not informed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3266E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3266E), registered now, S/N 17271484, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271484 - Airframe hours: 2629 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univ - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 22, 1997, 31 hours before - Departed: P14, HOLBROOK, AZ - Destination: PRC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PRC, Ernest A. Love Field, runway 3L, 4,842 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 64 total, 64 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 65 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PRC ## 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 19970819023039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970819023039A), Aug 19, 1997: Cessna 172N, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft bounced on landing and nose gear collapsed. (.4) the pilot landed hard and flat. The aircraft porpoised, pitched over, and struck the ground in a… 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.