# NTSB SEA99LA049: Cessna 172N, N75778, Puyallup, WA, April 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 1999, 11:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Puyallup, WA - Coordinates: 47.100646, -122.320671 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1006&lon=-122.3207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46107 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46107/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that upon touchdown, the aircraft 'bounced' and he elected to initiate a go-around. The aircraft momentarily became airborne and started to roll to the left. He tried to compensate for the wing low attitude, the aircraft's stall warning horn sounded and the aircraft collided with the ground. The aircraft's nose gear was sheared off and there was extensive damage to both wings. There were no mechanical malfunctions or failures reported with the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 1999, approximately 1135 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N75778, registered to Spanaflight, Incorporated, was substantially damaged after a bounced landing at Pierce County-Thun Airport, Puyallup, Washington. The aircraft was being operated as a title 14 CFR 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The flight originated from the Pierce County Airport approximately one hour and 20 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that upon touchdown on runway 34, the aircraft "bounced" and he elected to initiate a go-around. The pilot applied "a little back pressure to the yoke then added full power". The aircraft momentarily became airborne and started to roll to the left. As the pilot tried to compensate for the wing low attitude, the aircraft's stall warning horn sounded and the aircraft collided with the ground in a nose low attitude. The aircraft came to rest approximately 30 feet west of runway 34. The aircraft's nose gear was sheared off and there was extensive damage to both wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75778](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75778), registered now, S/N 17267943, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 67943 - Airframe hours: 3335 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Spanaflight - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 13, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: 1S0 - Airport: 1S0, Pierce County Airport, runway 34, 3,650 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 40 knots, gusting 5 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KTC, 8 nm away ## 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 19990413003329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990413003329A), Apr 13, 1999: Cessna 172N, Scappoose, OR, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control of the acft on landing, other circumstances are unknown. (-23)the student pilot was returning from the local practice area, made a… 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.