# NTSB SEA91LA080: Cessna 172A, Hood River, OR, April 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: April 5, 1991, 17:20 UTC, 09:20 local
- Place: Hood River, OR
- Coordinates: 45.610893, -121.580772 (estimated)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, May 5, 1993
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41408
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91LA080
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41408/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91LA080

## Probable cause

AN INADEQUATELY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.  FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE ROUGH WATER LANDING CONDITIONS, POOR SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, AND THE OVERLOAD CONDITION TO THE FLOAT ASSEMBLY.

## Analysis

DURING AN INSTRUCITONAL FLIGHT, PRACITICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON ROUGH WATER, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THE SUPPORT CABLES TO THE PONTOONS BROKE. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT, PARTIALLY SUBMERGIING THE LEFT WING IN THE WATER.

## Sequence of events

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,float assembly - overload

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9852T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9852T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A
- Registry model: Cessna 172A (registry code 2072404, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47652
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300D 145 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: PAUL J. WELP
- Departed: HOOD RIVER, OR
- Airport: runway 0
- FAA reports: 19910405011909A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910405011909A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; medical class 2; hours: 4 24 hours, 4 24 hours in this make and model, 62 30 days, 38 30 days in this make and model, 128 90 days, 58 90 days in this make and model, 457 instructor, 1,102 pic, 1,153 total, 73 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility (statute miles): 15
- Lowest ceiling (ft AGL): 6000
- Temperature (°F): 53.6

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.