- Date
- April 17, 2004, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Key West, FL
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5280DCessna 172S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20040417005419A
- Case key
- 59120
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty wind conditions which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and impacting a sign, incurring damage.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during the final approach the indicated airspeed was fluctuating between 75 and 80 knots. Once over the touchdown area, he said that he experienced strong gusts which caused a hard landing. He said the airplane bounced back in the air, but the nose of the airplane was still over the runway centerline, so he reduced power and allowed the airplane to glide to a touchdown. As the airplane touched the runway, the pilot said that it veered to the left, and the right main landing gear impacted one of the fixed distance signs. Prior to the accident the pilot stated there were mechanical failures or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems.
Factual narrative
On April 17, 2004, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5280D, registered to I72 Inc., and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, veered during landing in Key West, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and 4 passengers were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the same day, about 1125.
The pilot stated that during the final approach to land he did not experience any turbulence, but he noticed that the indicated airspeed was fluctuating between 75 and 80 knots. Once over the touchdown area, he said that he experienced strong gusts which caused a hard landing, and as the right main landing gear touched the runway during the hard landing the airplane bounced back in the air a few feet. He said the nose of the airplane was still over the centerline of the runway, so he reduced power and allowed the airplane to glide to a touchdown, but as the airplane touched the runway, it immediately skidded to the left, and the right main landing gear impacted one of the fixed distance signs. Prior to the accident the pilot stated there were mechanical failures or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5280D
- Reported as
- Cessna 172S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S9212
- Airframe hours
- 1,079
- Engine
- Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Airborne Systems, Inc.,
- Registered owner
- 172 Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 5, 2004 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- FXE · Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Destination
- EYW · Key West, FL
- Airport
- EYW · Key West International, runway 09, 4,801 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 107 total · 17 in this make and model · 57 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- EYW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5280D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.