# NTSB WPR09CA053: Cessna 172, N98774, Sedona, AZ, November 29, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 29, 2008, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.848609, -111.788612
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8486&lon=-111.7886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69521
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69521/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA053

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that his landing approach was fast, and that the airplane ballooned, and then bounced twice during the touchdown. The propeller and firewall were damaged, and the belly skin was wrinkled.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that his landing approach was fast, and the airplane ballooned and bounced twice during the touchdown. The propeller was damaged, and the firewall and belly skin were wrinkled.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98774](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98774), registered now, S/N 17276349, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (P)
- 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: 17276349
- Airframe hours: 11215
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Michael D. Mavity
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2008
- Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ
- Destination: SEZ, Sedona, AZ
- Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 03, 5,129 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 125 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observed at: FLG, 18 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 20081129852049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081129852049A), Nov 29, 2008: Cessna 172P, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 29, 2008 at approximately 1130 MST, N98774, a Cessna 172P piloted by [privacy data omitted], sustained structural and propeller damage while…

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.