# NTSB MIA87LA148: Cessna 172, N217JA, St.Petersburg, FL, April 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1987, 15:08 local (19:08 UTC)
- Place: St.Petersburg, FL
- Coordinates: 27.769214, -82.630462 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7692&lon=-82.6305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31905
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31905/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA148

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not possible, pilot in command
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING, THE ACFT FLOATED DOWN THE RWY AS THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED DURING THE APCH. THE PLT CONTINUED TO FLARE THE ACFT, & AS THE AIRSPEED BLED OFF, THE WINGS STALLED, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO PROPOISE, & ON THE THIRD LANDING, COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT THEN SLID OFF THE RWY & CAME TO REST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N217JA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N217JA), registered now, S/N 17275623 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275623
- Airframe hours: 1082
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jones Flying Service,Inc.
- Registered owner: Jones Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 25, 1987, 53 hours before
- Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL
- Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted Municipal, runway 36, 2,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 122 total, 10 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPG

## 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 19870426012409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870426012409A), Apr 26, 1987: Cessna 172P, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft porpoised on landing. The pilot attempted to retract flaps in the flare.

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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