# NTSB NYC07CA116: Cessna 172S, N924LP, Asheville, NC, May 9, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 9, 2007, 15:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place: Asheville, NC
- Coordinates: 35.435001, -82.53833
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4350&lon=-82.5383&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 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65757
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65757/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA116

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.  A factor in the accident was the visual illusion experienced by the pilot from landing on a long, wide runway.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - visual illusion, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - runway
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, since the Cessna 172 was "high," he adjusted the flight controls for a "rapid" descent, and intercepted the visual glideslope on short final.  At that point, the flaps were fully deployed, and the throttle at idle.  Once over the runway, the pilot flared too "high," the airplane landed hard, and bounced about four times with each bounce becoming more "violent."  On the last bounce, the airplane touched down nosewheel first, and the propeller struck the runway.  The pilot added that there were no problems with the airplane, and that the runway was twice as long, and twice as wide as his home runway, causing him to initiate the landing flare too high.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, since the Cessna 172 was "high," he adjusted the flight controls for a "rapid" descent, and intercepted the visual glideslope on short final.  At that point, the flaps were fully deployed, and the throttle at idle.  Once over the runway, the pilot flared too "high," the airplane landed hard, and bounced about four times with each bounce becoming more "violent."  On the last bounce, the airplane touched down nosewheel first, and the propeller struck the runway.  The pilot added that there were no problems with the airplane, and that the runway was twice as long, and twice as wide as his home runway, causing him to initiate the landing flare too high.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N924LP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N924LP), registered now, S/N 172S9204, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172S
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S9204
- Airframe hours: 2145
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Montgomery County Aviation
- Registered owner: Costello Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007
- Departed: LYH, LYNCHBURG, VA
- Destination: AVL, ASHEVILLE, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AVL, Asheville Regional, runway 16, 8,001 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 208 total, 137 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20070509012249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070509012249A), May 9, 2007: Cessna 172S, Asheville, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was landing runway 16 at Asheville Regional Airport. Pilot stated that he flared the aircraft too high. The aircraft dropped hard and then bounced.…

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.