# NTSB LAX99LA185: Cessna 172R, N9897F, Imperial, CA, May 18, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 1999, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Imperial, CA - Coordinates: 32.859668, -115.649635 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8597&lon=-115.6496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46342 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46342/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA185 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged landing flare, which led to an inadvertent porpoise condition. ## 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) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Inbound to the airport, the pilot requested a landing advisory from the CTAF. They advised runway 14 was in use. As the pilot neared the airport, another aircraft asked for advisories. That aircraft was advised that runway 32 was in use and landed on it. The pilot tried to contact the CTAF to verify runway 32 was now in use, but received no response. She entered right traffic for runway 32 and noted the windsock indicated there was no wind. She overshot the turn to final but corrected to line up on the runway centerline. She flared too high and tried to correct; however, during the landing, the aircraft started to porpoise. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the cowling and firewall. The pilot taxied clear of the runway and shut down. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 1999, at 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N9897F, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Imperial, California, airport. Pinnacle Aviation in Palomar, California, was operating the instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot was completing the third leg of a solo cross-country flight. She departed Thermal, California, about 1125. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. Inbound to Imperial, the pilot requested a landing advisory from Imperial Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). They advised runway 14 was in use. As the pilot neared the airport, another aircraft asked for advisories. That aircraft was advised that runway 32 was in use and landed on it. The pilot tried to contact the CTAF to verify runway 32 was now in use, but received no response. She entered right traffic for runway 32 and noted the windsock indicated there was no wind. She overshot the turn to final but corrected to line up on the runway centerline. She flared too high and tried to correct; however, during the landing, the aircraft started to porpoise. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the cowling and firewall. The pilot taxied clear of the runway and shut down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9897F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9897F), registered now, S/N 17280180 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280180 - Airframe hours: 1019 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: George Mc Jimsey, doing business as Pinnacle Aviation - Registered owner: P&M Aircraft, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 1999, 64 hours before - Departed: TRM, THERMAL, CA - Destination: IPL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IPL, Imperial County, runway 32, 5,304 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 43 total, 23 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IPL ## 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 19990518040539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990518040539A), May 18, 1999: Cessna 172R, Imperial, CA, Substantial damage. (.23) Student pilot on the third leg of a cross country flight was attempting to land ipl on 5/18/99, 1145 PST. Student pilot flared too soon, attempted to… 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.