# NTSB NYC08CA110: Cessna 172N, N3015E, Perry, GA, February 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 19, 2008, 11:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Perry, GA - Coordinates: 32.509998, -83.767219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5100&lon=-83.7672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67565/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA110 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing. Contributing to the accident were the gusting winds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot of the airplane departed and flew for approximately 1 hour before returning to find stronger, gusting winds. He initially intended to do "some touch and go landings," but due to the wind conditions, he opted to end the flight with a single, full stop landing. Due to the gusts, the pilot made a go-around on his first approach. He used a reduced flap setting of 20 degrees for his second approach, and during the flare, a gust of wind caused the airplane to "balloon." The pilot attempted to recover by adding power, but the airplane landed hard, nose gear first, bounced, and then landed normally. The pilot taxied to the terminal without further incident. The pilot did not experience any preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The weather observation at an airport 11 miles to the northeast, about the time of the accident, showed winds from 250 degrees, at 8 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. ## Factual narrative The student pilot of the Cessna 172N departed and flew for approximately 1 hour before returning to find stronger, gusting winds. He initially intended to perform "some touch and go landings," but due to the wind conditions, the pilot opted to terminate the flight with a single, full stop landing. Due to the gusts, the pilot executed a go-around on his first approach. He used a reduced flap setting of 20 degrees for his second approach, and during the flare, a gust of wind caused the airplane to "balloon." The pilot attempted to recover by adding power, but the airplane "landed hard" nose gear first, bounced, and then landed normally. The pilot completed the rollout and taxied to the terminal without further incident. The pilot did not experience any preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane, and a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The weather observation at an airport 11 miles to the northeast, about the time of the accident, showed winds from 250 degrees, at 8 knots with gusts to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3015E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3015E), registered now, S/N 17271404, built 1978 (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: 1721404 - Airframe hours: 4968 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Central Georgia Aviation, doing business as Central Georgia Aviation - Registered owner: Central Georgia Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 1, 2008 - Departed: PXE, Perry, GA - Destination: PXE, Perry, GA - Airport: PXE, Perry-Houston County Airport, runway 36, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 65; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 26 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: WRB, 11 nm away ## 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 20080219832489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080219832489A), Feb 19, 2008: Cessna 172N, Perry, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing approach, the pilot encountered winds of 11 knots with gusts of 17 to 18 knots. Pilot aborted his first landing attempt because of the… ## Other investigations on N3015E (2) 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 ERA19LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA079), Dec 24, 2018: Cessna 172 (N3015E), Fort Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the No. 2 exhaust rocker arm stud. - [NTSB ATL06CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA118), Nov 7, 2005: Cessna 172N (N3015E), Perry, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a touch-and-go landing on initial takeoff climb, resulting in a hard landing on the departure runway. 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.