# NTSB MIA05CA121: Cessna 172SP, N66113, Clearwater, FL, May 2, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 2, 2005, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Coordinates: 27.972778, -82.755279
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9728&lon=-82.7553&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Tampa FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61665/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA121

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.

## 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 - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was flying traffic patterns and was practicing landings to a full stop. His first landing was satisfactory, just landing beyond the runway numbers. The second traffic pattern was again satisfactory until he was on short final approach. His airspeed was too high, and the airplane touched down just passed the runway numbers and bounced "high".  He misjudged the severity of the bounced landing and failed to apply engine power to correct the situation. The airplane immediately started to porpoise, and became "uncontrollable". The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunction to the airplane or any of it's systems prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

On May 5, 2004, about 0900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172SP, N66113, registered to and operated by Clearwater Airpark Flight School Inc, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, incurred a hard landing in Clearwater, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from the Clearwater Air Park, Clearwater, Florida, earlier that day at an unspecified time.

The pilot stated that he was flying traffic patterns and was practicing landings to a full stop.  His first landing was satisfactory, just landing beyond the runway numbers. The second traffic pattern was again satisfactory until the he was on short final approach. His airspeed was too high, and the airplane touched down just passed the runway numbers and bounced "high". He misjudged the severity of the bounced landing and failed to apply engine power to correct the situation. The airplane immediately started to porpoise, and became "uncontrollable". The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunction to the airplane or any of it's systems prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66113](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66113-2010-11-12), registration cancelled 2010-11-12, S/N 172S9782, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172SP
- 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: 17259782
- Engines: Lycoming IO360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clearwater Airpark Flight School Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CLW, Clearwater, FL
- Airport: CLW, Clearwater Air Park, runway 34, 3,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 154 total, 81 in this make and model, 57 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: PIE

## 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 20050502010819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050502010819A), May 2, 2005: Cessna 172S, Clearwater, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 02, 2005, at approximately 0900 EDT, a Cessna 172S, N66113, registered to Clearwater airpark, inc. sustained substantial damage during a hard…

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.

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