# NTSB NYC05CA132: Cessna R172E, N7880N, Patuxent River, MD, August 10, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2005, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Patuxent River, MD
- Coordinates: 38.285831, -76.411666
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2858&lon=-76.4117&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 27, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: IAD FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62240
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62240/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA132

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting 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
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During landing, the pilot "porpoised" the airplane and did not recover until the third touchdown.  He realized after parking the airplane, that the propeller had struck the ground during the landing.  The pilot reported 322 hours of total flight experience, 311 of which were in make and model.  He additionally reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.  A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2005, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N7880N, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NHK), Patuxent River, Maryland.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Walter Francis Duke Regional Airport (2W6), Leonardtown, Maryland.  The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, during landing at NHK, he "porpoised" the airplane, and did not recover until the third touchdown.  He realized after parking the airplane, that the propeller had struck the ground during the landing.  The pilot reported 322 hours of total flight experience, 311 of which were in make and model.  He additionally reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the firewall.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7880N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7880N-2007-01-23), registration cancelled 2007-01-23, S/N R172-0271, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna R172E
- Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R172-0271
- Airframe hours: 8967
- Engines: Continental IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Patuxent River Navy Flying Club
- Registered owner: United States Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005
- Departed: 2W6, Leonardtown, MD
- Destination: NHK, Patuxent River, MD
- Airport: NHK, Patuxent River Naval Air Stat., runway 02, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 322 total, 311 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: NHK

## 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 20050810033749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050810033749A), Aug 10, 2005: Cessna R172E, Patuxent River, MD, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot entered pilot induced oscillations which caused a hard landing. Prop tips curled 3 inches and firewall was distorted from landing gear…

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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