# NTSB NYC95LA200: Cessna 172M, N8885V, Hopedale, MA, August 20, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1995, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Hopedale, MA
- Location: 42.1065° N, 71.5101° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HOPEDALE INDUSTRIAL PARK (1B6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1065&lon=-71.5101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39035/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA200

## Probable cause

the student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a fence and a building.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Analysis

During the student pilot's first solo landing, he flared high and landed hard. The airplane continued to bounce, and the student applied power to regain control. The airplane then veered off of the runway and collided with a fence and a building. The student had accumulated a total of 18.4 hours of dual flight instruction, all in this make and model.

## Factual narrative

On August 20, 1995, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N8885V, was destroyed during an attempted landing at the Hopedale Industrial Park Airport (1B6), Hopedale, Massachusetts.  The student pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, for the solo flight that originated at 1B6, at 1725.  No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the student pilot (SP) stated that he departed 1B6 for his first solo flight.  He then flew a standard pattern, and turned final to runway 36.  The SP further stated:

As I began my flare for touchdown, the plane hit the      runway on the main gear and caused a high bounce, then      came back down and hit the nose gear, causing a      porpoise-like motion.  I increased power momentarily,      to try to regain control, but the plane nosed very hard      into the runway and began veering to the left.  I then      tried to increase power in an attempt to get back on      the runway in order to avoid hitting the fence and the      building...I struck the building at about 50 MPH.

A review of the SP's logbook revealed that he had accumulated a total of 18.4 hours of dual flight instruction, in this make and model, prior to the flight.  The SP's Certificate was endorsed for solo flight the day of the accident, after an .8 hour flight with his instructor.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8885V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8885V-1996-03-18), registration cancelled 1996-03-18, S/N 17264244 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264244
- Airframe hours: 2979
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hopedale Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1B6
- Airport: 1B6, Hopedale Industrial Park, runway 36, 3,172 × 90 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVD, 28 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 19950820041589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820041589A), Aug 20, 1995: Cessna 172M, Hopedale, MA, Destroyed. First solo bounced and porpoised. Exited runway. Tried go around but struck a building at 50 miles per hour.

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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