MIA06CA101

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Miami, FL · May 1, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 1, 2006, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
Place
Miami, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N738DWCessna 172N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20060501005429A
Case key
63621

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 improper flare by the pilot resulting in a hard landing and substantial 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 commandCause

Analysis

The pilot stated that approximately 20 minutes after takeoff he radioed the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport Air Traffic Control Tower and requested touch-and-go landings. He reported having difficulty with the aircraft's radio and was cleared for a full stop landing on runway 9R. He further reported,''...the landing seemed normal; the main wheels touch down, but then as I noticed the yoke not releasing from the flare, the aircraft starts to balloon, I add a little power and attempt to land but the yoke was stiff." The airplane ballooned "...a couple of times, hitting the ground hard until I finally stopped." He taxied the airplane to the ramp and secured it where he again noticed the elevator control still stiff. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed impact damage to the firewall, and the control yoke was displaced up and was in contact with an instrument panel support bracket. Examination of the elevator flight control system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Factual narrative

On May 1, 2006, about 1445 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738DW, registered to Palmetto Sales & Leasing, Inc., operated by ADF Airways Corporation, experienced a loss of control during landing at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1425, from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport.

The pilot stated that approximately 20 minutes after takeoff he radioed the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport Air Traffic Control Tower and requested touch-and-go landings. He reported having a difficulty with the aircraft's radio and was cleared for a full stop landing on runway 9R. He further reported,''...the landing seemed normal; the main wheels touch down, but then as I noticed the yoke not releasing from the flare, the aircraft starts to balloon, I add a little power and attempt to land but the yoke was stiff." The airplane ballooned "...a couple of times, hitting the ground hard until I finally stopped." He taxied the airplane to the ramp and secured it where he again noticed the elevator control still stiff.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed impact damage to the firewall, and the control yoke was displaced up and was in contact with an instrument panel support bracket. Examination of the elevator flight control system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Aircraft

Registration
N738DW
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17269905
Engine
Lycoming O-320-H2AD, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
ADF Airways Corporation
Registered owner
Palmetto Sales & Leasing, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
KTMB · Miami, FL
Destination
KTMB · Miami, FL
Airport
KTMB · Kendall-Tamiami Executive, runway 9R

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
23
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
79 total · 71 in this make and model · 24 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.