# NTSB NYC04CA104: Cessna 172N, N6583D, Bridgeport, CT, April 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 10, 2004, 13:56 local (17:56 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, CT - Coordinates: 41.163333, -73.126113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1633&lon=-73.1261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59035 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59035/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the gusty winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was about 20 feet above runway 28 during landing, when the airplane encountered a wind gust which blew it off the left side of the centerline. The pilot realigned the airplane with the centerline when a second gust "ballooned" it up and then "slammed" it back down onto the runway. The nose wheel tire "popped," subsequently collapsing the nose gear assembly. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported 142 hours of total flight experience, 3 of which were in make and model. The winds were reported to be from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2004, at 1356 eastern daylight time, N6583D, a Cessna 172N, was substantially damaged during landing at the Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Bridgeport, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was about 20 feet above runway 28 during landing, when the airplane encountered a wind gust which blew it off the left side of the centerline. The pilot realigned the airplane with the centerline when a second gust "ballooned" it up and then "slammed" it back down onto the runway. The nose wheel tire "popped," subsequently collapsing the nose gear assembly. The propeller struck the ground, buckling the firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He also reported 142 hours of total flight experience, 3 of which were in make and model. The winds reported at 1354, at BDR, were from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6583D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6583D-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 17272876, built 1979 (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: 17272876 - Airframe hours: 6591 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Three Wing Flying Service - Registered owner: N6583d LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2004, 20 hours before - Departed: BDR, Bridgeport, CT - Destination: BDR - Airport: BDR, Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport, runway 29, 4,761 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 142 total, 3 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BDR ## 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 20040410005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040410005719A), Apr 10, 2004: Cessna 172N, Bridgeport, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 10, 2004, a Cessna 172, registration number 6583D, experienced a hard landing on runway 29 at Bridgeport, CT. There were 2 people on board and… 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.