# NTSB MIA86LA124: Cessna 172N, N121SU, St. Augustine, FL, April 18, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1986, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Augustine, FL
- Coordinates: 29.954493, -81.343354 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9545&lon=-81.3434&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31604/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA124

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WITH A TOTAL OF 36.2 HOURS OF LOGGED FLIGHT TIME, STATED THAT SHE LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE WHEEL AND THE NOSE STRUT FAILED DURING A FULL STOP LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N121SU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121SU-1992-03-23), registration cancelled 1992-03-23, S/N 17271347 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271347
- Airframe hours: 2422
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roberta A. Hinterlach
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1985
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Destination: SGJ, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL
- Airport: SGJ, St. Augustine, runway 2, 2,690 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 36 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 17 nm away

## 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 19860418012869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860418012869A), Apr 18, 1986: Cessna 172N, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. Landed hard on the nose gear and damaged it and the lower firewall.

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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