# NTSB NYC04CA073: Cessna 172N, N734AT, Easton, MD, February 12, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 12, 2004, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: Easton, MD
- Coordinates: 38.804164, -76.068885
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8042&lon=-76.0689&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 58807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA073

## Probable cause

The student 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)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting supervised solo flights.  While landing, he "accidentally" struck the runway with the propeller.  The airplane was then taxied to the ramp area, and secured.  According to the student pilot's flight instructor, who was supervising the solo flights, the airplane appeared to flare too high and began to porpoise.

## Factual narrative

On February 12, 2004, at 1705 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N734AT, was substantially damaged while landing at the Easton Airport (ESN), Easton, Maryland.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the student pilot, he was conducting supervised solo flights.  While landing on runway 22, he "accidentally" struck the runway with the propeller.  The airplane was then taxied to the ramp area, and secured.

According to the student pilot's flight instructor, who was supervising the solo flights, the airplane appeared to flare too high and began to porpoise.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734AT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734AT-2009-12-29), registration cancelled 2009-12-29, S/N 17268708, built 1977 (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: 17268708
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Navy Annapolis Flight Center Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ESN, Easton, MD
- Airport: ESN, Easton Airport, runway 22, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Observed at: ADW

## 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 20040212001829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040212001829A), Feb 12, 2004: Cessna 172N, Easton, MD, Minor damage. (-23) On the third and final stop and go landing, the student pilot flared too high and began porpoising down the runway. The student added power and the…

## Other investigations on N734AT (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC08CA248](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA248), Jul 12, 2008: Cessna 172N (N734AT), Edgewater, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged distance/speed during landing.

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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