# NTSB MIA04CA077: Cessna 172S, N5280D, Key West, FL, April 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2004, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Key West, FL - Coordinates: 24.55611, -81.759445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5561&lon=-81.7594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59120 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59120/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA077 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5280D), registered now, S/N 172S9212, built 2002 (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: 172S9212 - Airframe hours: 1079 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040417005419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040417005419A), Apr 17, 2004: Cessna 172S, Key West, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) N5280D was cleared to land rwy 9. The aircraft touched down in the first 1200FT of the runway, bounced and collapsed the right main landing gear it… ## Other investigations on N5280D (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 ERA20LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA247), Jul 13, 2020: Cessna 172 (N5280D), Fort Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the tower controller’s failure to provide information 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.