# NTSB MIA04CA028: Cessna 172S, N378FA, Orlando, FL, November 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 21, 2003, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.545555, -81.332778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5456&lon=-81.3328&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 58420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58420/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA028 ## Probable cause The student pilots improper landing flare and his improper recovery from a bounced landing resulting 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 - weather condition - crosswind - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot was on approach to runway 7, with 30 degrees of flaps. He flared and felt a gust or quick jolt to the left, and the airplane slammed into the runway nose first and bounced. The airplane came down at about a 45-degree angle to the runway and touched down, then drifted to the left. The pilot was instructed by ground control to taxi to the ramp. The airplane suffered damage to the nose wheel, propeller, and firewall. ## Factual narrative On November 21, 2003, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N378FA, registered to Air Audie Inc., and operated by Air Orlando Flight School, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 solo training flight , experienced a hard landing on runway 07, at Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Ocala International Airport, Ocala, Florida, the same day at 1215. The student pilot stated he was on final approach to runway 7, with 30 degrees of flaps and an airspeed between 65 and 68 knots. He flared and he felt a gust or quick jolt to the left, and the airplane slammed into the runway nose first and bounced. The second time the airplane came down with about a 45-degree angle to the runway and touched down, the airplane deviated towards the left. Application of the rudder was not effective. The pilot applied brakes to slow the aircraft down and was instructed by ground control to taxi to the ramp. A weather observation taken at 1253, the same day at Orlando Executive Airport, reported the wind was from 20 degrees at 10 knots. The airplane sustained damage to the nose wheel, propeller, and firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N378FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N378FA-2019-03-05), registration cancelled 2019-03-05, S/N 172S9378, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9378 - Airframe hours: 349.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air Orlando Flight School - Registered owner: Air Audie Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 23, 2003, 55.6 hours before - Departed: KOCF, Ocala, FL - Destination: ORL, Orlando, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ORL, Orlando Excecutive Airport, runway 07, 6,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 42 total, 42 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KORL ## 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 20031121037519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031121037519A), Nov 21, 2003: Cessna 172S, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot made hard landing returning from solo cross country flight. Damaged nose gear, prop, firewall, belly skin. ## Other investigations on N378FA (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 ERA11CA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA147), Feb 15, 2011: Cessna 172S (N378FA), Daytona Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate flare that resulted in a hard landing. 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.