# NTSB NYC02LA161: Cessna 172RG, N888RG, Rochester, NY, August 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2002, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Rochester, NY - Coordinates: 43.118888, -77.672225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1189&lon=-77.6722&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 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA\FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55453/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the slow response time of the airspeed indicator. ## 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 - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command - flare - improper, pilot in command - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - other (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot departed and flew directly to his first destination. During the flight, he suspected that the airspeed indicator was indicating low for his altitude and power setting, but was not convinced there was a real problem. The pilot landed, and then immediately took off again. Once airborne, he decided to proceed back to his original departure airport. After completing the en route portion of the flight, the pilot was cleared to land on the main runway, which made him feel like he had to expedite the approach and landing. During the approach, the descent rate and airspeed were higher than "warranted." The airplane touched down, bounced, and then touched down again. The nose of the airplane started to vibrate, and the pilot realized the airplane was damaged. Examination of the pitot system and airspeed indicator revealed that the indicator was reading within prescribed limits, but was "very" slow to respond to airspeed changes. In addition, the system had numerous leaks that were not related to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2002, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N888RG, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), Rochester, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed the Ledgedale Airpark (7G0), Brockport, New York, destined for Rochester. A flight plan was not filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed Rochester about 1000 and flew directly to Brockport. During the flight, he suspected that the airspeed indicator was indicating low for his altitude and power setting, but was not convinced there was a real problem. The pilot landed at Brockport, and then immediately took off again. Once airborne, he decided not to continue the flight as planned, and proceeded back to Rochester. Once in the terminal area at Rochester, the pilot was cleared by the tower controller to land on runway 22. Because runway 22 was the main runway at Rochester, the pilot felt he needed to expedite the landing. The pilot added it "was not due to the controllers or the tower, as they treated me with total professionalism." The pilot characterized the descent rate and airspeed during the approach as higher than "warranted." The airplane touched down, bounced, and then touched down again. The nose of the airplane started to vibrate, and the pilot realized the airplane was damaged. As the airplane cleared the runway, the tower controller radioed the pilot and asked if he was alright, and if he needed assistance. The pilot said yes to both, and shut down the engine. The pilot added that he should not have allowed himself to feel rushed, and that it was a self-induced feeling of urgency. He also felt that he should have initiated a go-around after the first bounce. Examination of the pitot system and airspeed indicator revealed that the indicator was reading within prescribed limits, but was "very" slow to respond to airspeed changes. In addition, the system had numerous leaks, and the technicians who performed the examination felt the leaks were not related to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888RG-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 172RG0389, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0389 - Airframe hours: 2396.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airventure Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: 7G0, Brockport, NY - Destination: ROC, Rochester, NC - Airport: ROC, Greater Rochester Internationa, runway 22, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 30, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 697 total, 14 in this make and model, 512 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: ROC ## 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 20020812037799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020812037799A), Aug 12, 2002: Cessna 172RG, Rochester, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On Monday, August 12, 2002, at 1040 EDT, a Cessna 172RG, N888RG, owned by airventure aviation LLC and operated by Mr. Peter ernest trimm, made a hard… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.