# NTSB MIA96LA105: Cessna 172N, N75770, New Smyrna Bch, FL, March 22, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1996, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: New Smyrna Bch, FL
- Coordinates: 29.020208, -80.91983 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0202&lon=-80.9198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37997
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37997/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA105

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent porpoise, and subsequent overload failure of the nose gear.

## 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 (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

The student pilot was on an approach for a full stop landing. He realized he was fast and reduced the power to idle and applied full flaps. He flared too late, and the airplane bounced and began to porpoise down the runway. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane was substantially damaged.

## Factual narrative

On March 22, 1996, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N75770, registered to Vintage Props and Jets, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced an on ground loss of control on landing and crashed at the New Smyna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from New Smyrna Beach about 1 hour 20 minutes before the accident.

The student pilot stated he was making full stop landings to runway 29. After about seven landings he made a fast approach at about 70 knots. Realizing that he was fast, he reduced the power to idle and applied full flaps. He flared too late and the airplane collided with the runway, bounced and began to porpoise down the runway. He panicked and lost control of the airplane. The nose gear collapsed. The airplane veered to the left and came to a complete stop next to the edge of the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75770](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75770), registered now, S/N 17267937 (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: 726937
- Airframe hours: 7896
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vintage Props And Jets
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1996, 78 hours before
- Departed: 34J
- Airport: 34J, New Smyrna Beach Muni, runway 29, 4,300 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 6 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 19960322007499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960322007499A), Mar 22, 1996: Cessna 172N, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. Flared too late on seventh practice landing. Bounced. Porpoised panicked and lost control. Collapsed nose gear.

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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