# NTSB SEA94LA068: Cessna 172, N21840, Gillette, WY, February 27, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1994, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Gillette, WY
- Coordinates: 44.460796, -105.700759 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4608&lon=-105.7008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41882
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41882/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA068

## Probable cause

WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE, AND A LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS ON HER SECOND SOLO FLIGHT, HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 13 TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE FOURTEENTH LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, AND DURING THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED REMEDIAL ACTION, SHE ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHEEL TO IMPACT THE RUNWAY HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME.

## Factual narrative

On February 27, 1994, approximately 1100 mountain standard time (MST), a Cessna 172, N21840, experienced a hard landing at Gillette-Campbell County Airport, Gillette, Wyoming. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight, which originally departed the same airport about 90 minutes earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to her instructor, this was the student pilot's second solo flight. The instructor said that during the flight the student had successfully completed 12 or 13 touch-and-go landings prior to the accident. He stated that the accident sequence began when, during an attempted landing, the aircraft began to porpoise. While attempting remedial action to stop the porpoising, the pilot allowed the nose wheel to impact the runway hard enough to cause substantial damage to the airframe.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21840](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21840), registered now, S/N 17264031, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264031
- Airframe hours: 4127
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Gillette Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gillette Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1994, 47 hours before
- Airport: GCC, Gillette-Campbell County, runway 16, 7,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 3 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCC

## 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 19940227003049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940227003049A), Feb 27, 1994: Cessna 172M, Gillette, WY, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised during touch and go landing. Allowed nose ger to impact hard enough to damage airframe.

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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