# NTSB NYC08CA135: Cessna 172R, N24619, Richmond, VA, March 9, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 9, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Richmond, VA
- Coordinates: 37.505001, -77.319442
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5050&lon=-77.3194&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: Richmond, VA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA135

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that the airplane bounced at touchdown, then landed hard on all three landing gear. During taxi, the airplane would not respond to nose wheel steering, and a postflight inspection revealed damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, and firewall. The student pilot reported 21 hours of flight experience, and stated that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot of the Cessna 172 stated that the airplane bounced at touchdown, then landed hard on all three landing gear. During taxi, the airplane would not respond to nose-wheel steering, and a post flight inspection revealed damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, and firewall. The student pilot reported 21 hours of flight experience, and stated that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24619](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24619), registered now, S/N 17280831, built 2000 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280831
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Airline Transport Professionls
- Registered owner: ATP Aircraft 2 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SFQ, SUFFOLK, VA
- Destination: RIC, RICHMOND, VA
- Airport: RIC, Richmond International Airport, runway 34, 9,003 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: RIC

## 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 20080309012589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080309012589A), Mar 9, 2008: Cessna 172R, Richmond, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot [privacy data omitted] was flying on his first solo cross country. During the return leg home, the pilot [privacy data omitted] flew a…

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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