# NTSB SEA96LA077: Cessna 172P, N51380, Friday Harbor, WA, April 4, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1996, 20:30 local (Apr 4, 1996, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Friday Harbor, WA
- Coordinates: 48.530067, -123.059379 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5301&lon=-123.0594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42351
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42351/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA077

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudgment of the aircraft's altitude above the runway and failure to flare for landing. Darkness (bright night) was a related factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot, who was landing during the hours of darkness (bright night), thought the aircraft was still about 20 to 30 feet in the air, when its nosewheel slammed into the runway surface. The force of the impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.

## Factual narrative

On April 3, 1996, approximately 2030 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172P, N51380, experienced a hard landing at Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor, Washington. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Paine Field, Everett, Washington, about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was later turned off at the scene.

According to the pilot, who was attempting to land after sunset, he flew a normal approach for a VFR full-stop landing. At the point where he thought he was still about 20 to 30 feet above the ground, the nose wheel slammed into the runway. The force of the impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft structure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51380](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51380), registered now, S/N 17274305, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172P
- 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: 17274305
- Airframe hours: 3900
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aircraft Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 1996
- Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA
- Destination: FHR
- Airport: FHR, Friday Harbor, runway 16, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 96 total, 18 in this make and model, 48 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19960403006029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960403006029A), Apr 3, 1996: Cessna 172P, Friday Harbor, WA, Substantial damage. Failed to flare on night landing. Nose gears slammed onto runway. Damaged wing structure. Limited night time.

## Other investigations on N51380 (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 WPR21LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA157), Apr 14, 2021: Cessna 172P (N51380), Bellingham, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a loss of control during landing with a crosswind and subsequent nose over.

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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