# NTSB MIA97LA108: Cessna 172M, N5123H, Pompano Beach, FL, March 27, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1997, 10:23 local (15:23 UTC)
- Place: Pompano Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.229806, -80.129081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2298&lon=-80.1291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38238/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA108

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in 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)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

After a student pilot made an approach for the third and final landing, the airplane touched down and began to porpoise. The student did not apply power, and the porpoising continued 4 or 5 times until the nose landing gear collapsed.

## Factual narrative

On March 27, 1997, about 1023 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N5123H, registered to Sun Flight International, Inc., was substantially damaged on landing at the Pompano Beach Airpark, Pompano Beach, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 61 instructional flight.  The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated about 5 minutes earlier from the Pompano Beach Airpark.

According to the operator of the airplane, the flight was the student's second supervised solo flight and after touchdown for the third and final landing, the airplane started to porpoise.  The student did not apply power to go around and the airplane came to rest on the edge of the runway.  Damage to the firewall and rear spar of the left wing was noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5123H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5123H-2013-11-13), registration cancelled 2013-11-13, S/N 17265343, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17265343
- Airframe hours: 3485
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Airborne Systems
- Registered owner: Sun Flight International, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 26, 1997, 54 hours before
- Departed: PMP
- Airport: PMP, Pompano Beach Airpark, runway 32, 4,419 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PMP

## 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 19970327010039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970327010039A), Mar 27, 1997: Cessna 172M, Pompano Beach, FL, Substantial damage. On 2nd solo. Bounced and porpoised landing. Failed go around. Stopped runway edge. Damaged firewall and wing spar. (-23) student pilot was on 3rd supervised…

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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