# NTSB NYC03LA032: Cessna 172S, N782SP, Akron, OH, December 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 2002, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Akron, OH - Coordinates: 40.91611, -81.442222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9161&lon=-81.4422&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 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 56245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56245/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56245 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare 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) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on runway 23, a 7,597 foot-long, 150 foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down hard and began to bounce. The airplane bounced five or six times before the pilot performed a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the pilot experienced difficulty manipulating the airplane's controls. The airplane landed hard and veered off the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the outboard 6-inches of the propeller tips were curled aft and the upper part of the landing gear strut was pushed into and thru the firewall. Additionally, the movement of the airplane's control column, rudder pedals, aileron cables, and elevator trim was restricted due to impact damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems prior to the first landing attempt. A weather observation taken about the time of the accident reported that the winds were from 260 degrees at 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 2002, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N782SP, was substantially damaged while landing at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK), Akron, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot said he was landing with a crosswind component of about 15 knots, on runway 23, a 7,597-foot-long, 150-foot wide, asphalt runway. The airplane touched down hard and began to bounce. The airplane bounced five or six times before the pilot performed a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the pilot experienced difficulty manipulating the airplane's controls. The airplane landed hard, veered off the left side of the runway, and struck a snow bank. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed the outboard 6-inches of the propeller tips were curled aft and the upper part of the landing gear strut was pushed into and thru the firewall. Additionally, the movement of the airplane's control column, rudder pedals, aileron cables, and elevator trim was restricted due to impact damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems prior to the first landing attempt. He reported 2,109 hours of total flight experience, which included about 205 hours in single engine airplanes and 17 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. An automated weather observation taken at CAK, at 1433, reported the winds were from 260 degrees at 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N782SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N782SP-2005-08-12), registration cancelled 2005-08-12, S/N 172S8710, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8710 - Airframe hours: 820 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Airsports Aviation - Registered owner: 9579V Aviation Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: BKL, CLEVELAND, OH - Destination: CAK, AKRON, OH - Airport: CAK, Akron-Canton Regional, runway 23, 7,597 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 20, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,109 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,204 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: CAK ## 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 20021226034259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021226034259A), Dec 26, 2002: Cessna 172S, Akron, OH, Substantial damage. (.19) On December 26, 2002, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N782SP, was substantially damaged while landing at the Akron-Canton Regional… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56245. 879 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement and Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20and%20Pilot%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF 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.