# NTSB MIA98LA095: Cessna 172P, N53456, Destin, FL, March 6, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1998, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Destin, FL
- Coordinates: 30.399753, -86.489471 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3998&lon=-86.4895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38470/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA095

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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)

## Analysis

The pilot stated he flared too high during landing. The airplane touched down and bounced back into the air, then landed hard on the nose wheel, resulting in damage to the firewall.

## Factual narrative

On March 6, 1998, about 1030 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, registered to Miracle Strip Aviation Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, Destin, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated about 15 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he flared too high on landing. The airplane touched down and  bounced back into the air and landed hard on the nosewheel. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53456](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53456), registered now, S/N 17274754, built 1981 (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: 172-74754
- Airframe hours: 9031
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D21 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Miracle Strip Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 19, 1998, 35 hours before
- Departed: DTS
- Airport: DTS, Destin-Ft Walton Beach, runway 32, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 67 total, 14 in this make and model, 41 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VPS, 10 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 19980306002839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980306002839A), Mar 6, 1998: Cessna 172P, Destin, FL, Substantial damage. Flared too high landing. Bounced on hard landing. Came down on nosewheel. Firewall buckled. (.4)the pilot stated he flared too high during landing. The…

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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