# NTSB MIA08CA057: Cessna 172N, N203GT, Centre, AL, March 3, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 3, 2008, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Centre, AL
- Coordinates: 34.158889, -85.634445
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1589&lon=-85.6344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Birmingham FSDO -09
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA057

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that this was his first solo cross-country flight to the Centre Municipal Airport, Centre, Alabama. He said that he landed the airplane hard, and it bounced twice before settling on the runway. After shutting the engine down, he exited the airplane and noticed that the nose tire was flat. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the firewall and engine mounts were buckled.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that this was his first solo cross-country flight to the Centre Municipal Airport, Centre, Alabama. He said that he landed the airplane hard, and it bounced twice before settling on the runway. After shutting the engine down, he exited the airplane and noticed that the nose tire was flat. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the firewall and engine mounts were buckled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N203GT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N203GT), registered now, S/N 17272403, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172 72403
- Airframe hours: 5576
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Yelow Jacket Flying Club, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2007, 100 hours before
- Departed: FTY, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: C22, CENTRE, AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: C22, Centre Muni, runway 27, 3,401 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 53 total, 53 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: KGAD, 25 nm away

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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