# NTSB NYC04CA102: Cessna 172P, N5425K, Westfield, MA, April 9, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 9, 2004, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Westfield, MA - Coordinates: 42.157501, -72.715553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1575&lon=-72.7156&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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59029 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59029/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA102 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and his failure to maintain aircraft control while 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) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis During the student pilot's first solo landing, as the airplane neared the runway, it climbed slightly and dropped "very fast" back to the runway surface. The airplane touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the landing gear assembly and buckling the firewall. The airplane veered left and came to rest in a grass field. The student pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 2004, at 1110 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N5425K, was substantially damaged while landing at the Barnes Municipal Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts. 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, the accident flight was her first solo flight. After completing one circuit in the traffic pattern, the student pilot returned to land on runway 02, a 9,000-foot long, 150-foot wide asphalt runway. As the airplane neared the runway, it climbed slightly and dropped "very fast" back to the runway surface. The airplane touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the landing gear assembly and buckling the firewall. The airplane veered left and came to rest in a grass field. The student pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane. The wind conditions about the time of the accident were from 360 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5425K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5425K), registered now, S/N 17274106 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274106 - Airframe hours: 2511 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Five Star Flight Academy - Registered owner: Stephen M Hayden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2004, 9 hours before - Departed: BAF - Airport: BAF, Barnes Municipal, runway 02, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13 total, 7 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: BAF ## 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 20040409005689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040409005689A), Apr 9, 2004: Cessna 172P, Westfield, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 9, 2004, the student pilot was making her first solo flight. The student pilot took off from runway 02 at Barnes airport (kbaf) for a closed… ## Other investigations on N5425K (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 MIA08CA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA045), Dec 26, 2007: Cessna 172P (N5425K), Northampton, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll and inadequate supervision by the CFI. 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.