# NTSB SEA94LA083: Cessna 172, N52807, Seattle, WA, March 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 1994, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.670269, -122.380104 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6703&lon=-122.3801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41896 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41896/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA083 ## Probable cause THE STUDENT'S IMPROPER FLARE FOR LANDING AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION. ## 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) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis DURING AN ATTEMPTED TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT ALLOWED THE NOSE GEAR TO CONTACT THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO THE MAINS. THE NOSEWHEEL IMPACTED WITH SUFFICIENT ENERGY TO RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S FIREWALL. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 1994, approximately 1300 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172, N52807, experienced a hard landing at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington. The CFI and her student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The FAR Part 91 dual instructional flight, which departed the same location about 5 minutes earlier, was being operated 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 the CFI, during one of the student's touch-and-go landings, he either forced the nose gear of the aircraft onto the runway, or suddenly released back-pressure, allowing the aircraft's nose to rapidly drop. This resulted in the nosewheel contacting the runway prior to the main gear with enough force to result in substantial damage to the firewall. The CFI took control of the aircraft during the landing attempt, but not in time to prevent the hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52807](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52807-2009-07-28), registration cancelled 2009-07-28, S/N 17274611, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274611 - Airframe hours: 7334 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wings Aloft - Registered owner: Day, Lawrence E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 24, 1994, 18 hours before - Airport: BFI, Boeing Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 674 total, 201 in this make and model, 582 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19940311005059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940311005059A), Mar 11, 1994: Cessna 172P, Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. Student failed to flare properly for landing. CFI failed to correct or prevent lack of flare. ## Other investigations on N52807 (2) 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 LAX08CA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA163), Jun 4, 2008: Cessna 172P (N52807), Bremerton, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. - [NTSB SEA83LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA075), Apr 5, 1983: Cessna 172 PII (N52807), Snohomish, WA, 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.