# NTSB MIA95LA122: Cessna 172P, N96EP, Clearwater, FL, April 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1995, 12:57 local (16:57 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Location: 27.9086° N, 82.6865° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL (PIE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9086&lon=-82.6865&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37759/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA122

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED DURING THE LANDING FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN.

## 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
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

DURING LANDING FLARE THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED. THE PILOT PUSHED THE NOSE OVER AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDING HARD ON THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND.

## Factual narrative

On April 29, 1995, about 1257 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N96EP, registered to Vector I Air Service, made a hard landing at St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport, Clearwater, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Hernando, Florida on April 29, 1995, about 1230.

The pilot stated that during landing flare the aircraft ballooned. He lowered the nose and the aircraft landed hard on the nose landing gear. The nose tire blew out and the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then nosed down and the right wing contacted the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96EP-2011-05-23), registration cancelled 2011-05-23, S/N 17276256, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- 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: 17276256
- Airframe hours: 1075
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: American Flying Adventure Inc.
- Registered owner: Vector I Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 1995, 81 hours before
- Departed: BKV, BROOKSVILLE, FL
- Destination: PIE
- Airport: PIE, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, runway 9, 5,165 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 4 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 1 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 19950429012809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950429012809A), Apr 29, 1995: Cessna 172P, St Petersburg-C, FL, Substantial damage. Ballooned on landing. Came down hard nose first. Blew tire and collapsed nose gear. Right wing struck the ground.

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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