# NTSB MIA03CA148: Cessna 172S, N970SP, Olive Branch, MS, July 25, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2003, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Olive Branch, MS - Coordinates: 34.97861, -89.786941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9786&lon=-89.7869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03CA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57605/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA148 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare/touchdown and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard landing and damage to the airplane. ## 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 (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that as he approached the runway to perform the landing flare/touchdown he reduced engine power and applied back pressure to the control yoke until the main landing gear touched the runway. He said as he continued to apply back pressure after having touched down, the airplane became airborne again, so he relaxed back pressure to flare again, but upon touching the ground the airplane bounced back into the air. He said there were additional attempts to perform the landing flare, but each time successive bounces occurred. During the last attempt, the student said he added a small amount of power in an attempt to recover and the airplane first impacted on its main landing gear, then it "abruptly" impacted on the nose gear as well. The airplane then leaned forward, and remained on the ground, while at a speed of about 20 knots, incurring damage to the propeller, nose gear and firewall. According to the student, prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2003 about 1810 central daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N970SP, registered to and operated by Douglas Aviation Inc., as Title 14 CFR part 91 instructional flight, had a hard landing in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight had originated the same day, about 1805. The student pilot stated that he was completing his third of three solo landings, and there was a slight headwind. He further stated that as he approached the runway to perform the landing flare/touchdown he reduced engine power and applied back pressure to the control yoke until the main landing gear touched the runway. He said as he continued to apply back pressure after having touched down, the airplane became airborne again, so he relaxed back pressure to flare again, but upon touching the ground the airplane bounced back into the air. He said there were additional attempts to perform the landing flare, but each time successive bounces occurred. During the last attempt, the student said he added a small amount of power in an attempt to recover and the airplane first impacted on its main landing gear, then it "abruptly" impacted on the nose gear as well. The airplane then leaned forward, and remained on the ground, while at a speed of about 20 knots, incurring damage to the propeller, nose gear and firewall. According to the student, prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N970SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N970SP-2005-04-15), registration cancelled 2005-04-15, S/N 172S8172, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8172 - Engines: VT IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: OLV, Olive Branch, MS - Destination: OLV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 24 total, 24 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20030725016389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030725016389A), Jul 25, 2003: Cessna 172S, Olive Branch, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] ## Other investigations on N970SP (1) 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 ATL04LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA164), Aug 1, 2004: Cessna 172S (N970SP), Waterloo, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision into water. 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.