# NTSB NYC99LA086: Cessna 172P, N66162, Lawrence, MA, April 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 1999, 08:56 local (13:56 UTC) - Place: Lawrence, MA - Location: 42.7170° N, 71.1235° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAWRENCE MUNI (LWM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7170&lon=-71.1235&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 10, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46061 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46061/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA086 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare, and his improper recover from a bounced landing. ## 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) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After a dual instructional flight, the student pilot (SP) departed for his first solo flight. The SP was attempting a touch and go landing, when the airplane's nose wheel contacted the runway, and the airplane bounced back up into the air. The airplane bounced two to three times, and it's propeller struck the runway. The airplane came to rest on the runway. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The airplane's nose gear had been driven up into the fuselage, damaging the firewall. The SP reported 35 hours of total flight experience, of which, 24 hours were in the past 90 days. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 1999, about 0856 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N66162, was substantially damaged while landing at the Lawrence Municipal Airport, Lawrence, Massachusetts. The certificated student pilot (SP) was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the CFI, after a dual flight lesson, which included touch and go landings, balked landings, and go-arounds, he felt the SP was ready for his first solo flight. The SP stated his intent was to perform a touch and go landing, and then a landing to a full stop. The CFI observed the flight from the ground. He stated the airplane entered the traffic pattern for runway 5, and the SP's approach seemed very standard and normal. He further stated: "...the flare and round out seemed a little flat. The nose wheel of the aircraft made contact with the runway, this caused the aircraft to porpoise back up into the air. The oscillations got worse and worse until finally the propeller made contact with the runway. I estimate about three bounces before the [propeller] struck the runway." The airplane came to rest on the runway. The SP stated he believed he landed a "little too fast," which caused the airplane to balloon, and bounce. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The airplane's nose gear had been driven up into the fuselage, damaging the firewall. The SP reported 35 hours of total flight experience, of which, 24 hours were in the past 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66162](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66162-2000-04-04), registration cancelled 2000-04-04, S/N 17275973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275973 - Airframe hours: 7000 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Four Star Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LWM - Airport: LWM, Lawrence Municipal, runway 5, 5,000 × 159 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 24 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LWM ## 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 19990402002999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990402002999A), Apr 2, 1999: Cessna 172P, Lawrence, MA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was practicing touch and go landings when the acft landed, became airborne again, came back down hard on the nose gear and propeller, and… ## Other investigations on N66162 (1) 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 NYC84LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA001), Oct 2, 1983: Cessna 172 (N66162), Eppingham, NH, substantial damage 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.