# NTSB MIA03CA125: Cessna 172S, N53352, Melbourne, FL, June 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2003, 09:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Coordinates: 28.109722, -80.737777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1097&lon=-80.7378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57299/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his failure to execute a go-around. ## 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 - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ditch - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot stated to an airport operator official that the airplane touched on the right of center line and bounced up with the engine power at idle. The airplane touched down a second time approximately 5 feet off the right side of runway 27L in the grass. The airplane continued to porpoise in the grass, bounced two more times well right of the runway. As the airplane began to porpoise for a third time, it descended toward a drainage ditch that was approximate 6 feet deep. The nose of the aircraft touched down in the middle of the ditch, causing the airplane to flip over, tail over nose. The pilot evacuated the airplane with no injuries. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2003, about 0925 eastern daylight time, a Cessna C172S, N53352, operated by FIT Aviation, LLC and registered to J3M Airops, bounced off the runway on landing and flipped over at runway 27L at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-pilot rated pilot was not injured. There were no injuries to anyone on the ground. The flight had originated from the Tallahassee Regional Airport, Tallahassee, Florida, at about 0725. The pilot stated to FIT Aviation, LLC, flight safety officer, the airplane touched on the right of the center line and bounced up with the engine power at idle. The airplane touched down a second time approximately 5 feet off the right side of runway 27L in the grass. The airplane continued to porpoise in the grass and bounced two more times well right of the runway. As the airplane began to porpoise for a third time, it descended toward a drainage ditch that was approximately 6 feet deep. The nose of the aircraft touched down in the middle of the ditch, causing the airplane to flip over, tail over nose. The pilot evacuated the airplane with no injuries. A witness, the flight instructor in a Piper, N616FT, stated, during landing on runway 27L crosswind conditions were such that he (instructor) assumed control from student, taxied off on C taxiway and looked toward his left, to see a C172 bounce off of 27L and begin to porpoise. The plane bounced four times. During porpoise, the tower radioed and asked Cessna 352 is there a problem, and he then saw the Cessna strike the ditch and flip over onto its back. He told ground an airplane had crashed and that they needed to dispatch fire trucks. They then taxied back to FIT ramp. Another witness, the student pilot in a Piper, N616FT, stated, from the left seat of the Piper, having just landed on MLB Runway 27L with a left crosswind, they had safely landed and taxied on taxiway C, (himself and instructor in the right seat) and were completing a training flight. Stopping just past hold the short line, he heard the instructor say "go around, go around" and he looked to his left to see a high wing, single engine, blue and white plane bounce up off what looked like its first touch down. The wheels arose about 3 feet, touched again more gently, then seemed to settle down, bouncing on what seemed to be the grass on the northern side, rolled on its wheels down a ditch and turned over, nose to tail. The instructor called ground and said the plane had crashed and emergency vehicles should probably be called; ground said they called them. After what seemed like several minutes, one person in dark clothing walked away from the plane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53352](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53352), registered now, S/N 172S9352 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9352 - Airframe hours: 66.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: FIT Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: J3M Airops - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KTLH, Tallahassee, FL - Destination: KMLB, Melbourne, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MLB, Melbourne Regional, runway 27L ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review April 28, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 6 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: MLB ## 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 20030618015459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030618015459A), Jun 18, 2003: Cessna 172S, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing on runway 27L at mlb, pilot bounced, then lost control departing the runway to the right side, hit a ditch and came to rest in the… 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.