MIA05CA091

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Kissimmee, FL · April 13, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 13, 2005, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Kissimmee, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N716SDCessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 7, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
61311

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing resulting in a hard landing and damage to the airplane.

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.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Flare - improperPilot in command
Recovery from bounced landing - improperPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The student pilot stated just prior to landing on runway the airplane began to porpoise. After bouncing on the runway, he felt he had the airplane under control as the wheels settled onto the tarmac. He felt the airplane lean forward followed by the propeller striking the ground. He pulled the mixture to idle and the airplane traveled a few yards before coming to a stop. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Factual narrative

On April 13, 2005, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N716SD, registered to N80FT Inc. and operated by Orlando Flight Training, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, had a hard landing at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Kissimmee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from the same airport, earlier that day, about 1330.

The student pilot stated just before landing on runway 33 the plane began to porpoise. After bouncing on the runway, he felt he had the airplane under control as the wheels settled onto the tarmac. Just as the airplane started rolling, he noticed the plane began to lean forward. At this point, he assumed the tire had punctured and immediately after, the propeller began to strike the ground at which point he pulled the mixture to idle. The airplane's momentum took it forward a few yards until it stopped halfway onto the taxiway. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N716SD
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
172581045
Engine
Textron Lycoming IO-360-L2A, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Orlando Flight Training
Registered owner
N80FT Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
ISM · Kissimmee, FL
Airport
ISM · Kissimmee Gateway Airport, runway 33, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
18
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
71 total · 7 in this make and model · 71 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 15 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 48 °F