# NTSB LAX98LA294: Cessna 172L, N19770, Bakersfield, CA, September 6, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1998, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Coordinates: 35.38058, -119.020103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3806&lon=-119.0201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43969/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA294 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare that led to an improper bounced landing recovery and subsequent uncontrolled 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) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - not corrected, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was practicing takeoffs and landings at the accident airport and said that on the first attempted landing he initiated a go-around because the aircraft was too high above the runway. On the second landing attempt, he said he flared too high and the aircraft stalled 20 feet above the ground. The aircraft landed hard and porpoised down the runway, striking the propeller before coming to a stop. The pilot did not note any mechanical anomalies with the aircraft or engine. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1998, at 1045 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N19770, made a hard landing on runway 16 at the Bakersfield, California, Municipal Airpark. The aircraft, operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from Bakersfield airport at 1000 on the morning of the accident. The pilot stated that he was practicing takeoffs and landings. He stated that on the first attempted landing the aircraft was too high and he had to initiate a go-around. He reported that on the second landing attempt, he flared too high and the aircraft stalled 20 feet above ground level. The aircraft landed hard and porpoised down the runway striking the propeller before coming to a stop. No mechanical malfunctions were noted with the aircraft or engine by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19770](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19770-2004-07-06), registration cancelled 2004-07-06, S/N 17260738, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260738 - Airframe hours: 2388 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kern Charter Airservice - Registered owner: Payne Consulting - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 1998, 61 hours before - Departed: L45 - Airport: L45, Bakersfield Muni, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 402 total, 275 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BFL, 12 nm away ## 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 19980906031229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906031229A), Sep 6, 1998: Cessna 172L, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot misjudged the flare altitude adn stalled the aircraft approximately 20 feet above the runway. The pilot maintained control of the aircraft, but made a… ## Other investigations on N19770 (2) 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 LAX03FA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA109), Mar 7, 2003: Cessna 172L (N19770), Rosamond, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a stall and impact with flat level terrain. Also causal was the pilot's impaired judgment due… - [NTSB LAX77DUJ54](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77DUJ54), May 28, 1977: Cessna 172 (N19770), Chinle, AZ, 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.