# NTSB NYC04CA145: Cessna 172R, N356ES, Hartford, CT, June 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 21, 2004, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Hartford, CT - Coordinates: 41.73611, -72.650001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7361&lon=-72.6500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Windsor Locks - NTSB case key (mKey): 59489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59489/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA145 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare and inadequate compensation for wind conditions. 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The student pilot stated that she was on a solo flight, practicing crosswind landings during gusty conditions. While landing, as the student pilot flared the airplane, a sudden loss of headwind was encountered, and the airspeed began to decay. The student pilot added power in an attempt to go-around, but the airplane continued to descend towards the runway. The airplane touched down hard, bounced into the air, and the pilot proceeded to go around. The subsequent approach and landing were uneventful. The wind conditions about the time of the accident were from 260 degrees at 11 knots with 15 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2004, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N356ES, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford, Connecticut. 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. The student pilot stated that she was on a solo flight, practicing crosswind landings during gusty conditions. While landing, as the student pilot flared the airplane, a sudden loss of headwind was encountered, and the airspeed began to decay. The student pilot added power in an attempt to go-around, but the airplane continued to descend towards the runway. The airplane touched down hard, bounced into the air, and the pilot proceeded to go-around. The subsequent approach and landing were uneventful. In addition, the pilot stated that she did not experience any malfunctions with the engine or the airframe prior to the accident. A weather observation taken at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, at 1153, reported winds from 260 degrees at 11 knots with 15 knot gusts, visibility 10 statute miles, sky conditions clear, temperature 75 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 41 degrees Fahrenheit and altimeter setting 29.96 inches of Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N356ES](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N356ES), registered now, S/N 17280051, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280051 - Engines: Lycoming IO 360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Professional Flight Training Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Hartford, CT - Airport: KHFD, Hartford-Brainard Airport, runway 20, 4,418 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 99 total, 99 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KHFD ## 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 20040621011229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040621011229A), Jun 21, 2004: Cessna 172R, Hartford, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 21, 2004 at approximately 1210 local EDT, aircraft N356ES, a Cessna 172R, sustained substantial damage when in encountered a hard landing on… 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.