# NTSB NYC99LA188: Cessna 172R, N2746C, Cheswold, DE, August 1, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1999, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place: Cheswold, DE
- Coordinates: 39.220363, -75.579963 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2204&lon=-75.5800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA188

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and improper recovery 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

The pilot stated that while landing at his destination, the first approach to land on Runway 27 was high, and a go-around was performed.  The second attempt to land on the runway was long, and the airplane floated about halfway down the runway, before touching down hard.  The airplane then bounced into the air, and settled back to the ground, touching down hard a second time.  The airplane bounced several more times, until the pilot added full power, and executed a go-around.  The pilot climbed the airplane to about 3,000 feet above the ground, and returned to his departure airport.  The pilot did not notice any vibrations during the return flight, and the airplane performed normally, except for a slightly slower airspeed.  Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the main gear, the main cabin floorboards, buckling of the firewall, and 2-inch rearward curling of the propeller

## Factual narrative

On August 1, 1999, about 1110 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172R, N2746C, was substantially damaged while landing at the Delaware Airport (33N), Cheswold, Delaware.  The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Brandywine Airport (N99), West Chester, Pennsylvania, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that while landing at 33N, the first approach to land on Runway 27, a 3,715-foot long asphalt runway, was high, and a go-around was performed.  The second attempt to land on Runway 27 was long, and the airplane floated about halfway down the runway, before touching down hard.  The airplane then bounced into the air, and settled back to the ground, touching down hard a second time.  The airplane bounced several more times, until the pilot added full power, and executed a go-around.  The pilot climbed the airplane to about 3,000 feet above the ground, and returned to N99.  The pilot did not notice any vibrations during the return flight, and the airplane performed normally, except for a slightly slower airspeed.

Examination of the airplane at N99 by a Federal Aviation Inspector revealed damage to the main gear, the main cabin floorboards, buckling of the firewall, and 2-inch rearward curling of the propeller blades.

The winds reported at an airport located 5 miles to the southeast, at 1045 were, 300 degrees at 8 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2746C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2746C), registered now, S/N 17280587, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172R
- Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280587
- Airframe hours: 467
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tas Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 1999, 46 hours before
- Departed: N99, WEST CHESTER, PA
- Destination: 33N
- Airport: 33N, Delaware Airport, runway 27, 3,715 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 175 total, 29 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DOV, 5 nm away

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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