# NTSB WPR11CA478: Fpna A-22 Valor, N730FP, Fresno, CA, September 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 23, 2011, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Fresno, CA - Coordinates: 36.732223, -119.820274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7322&lon=-119.8203&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA478 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82006/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82006 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA478 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Fpna A-22 VALOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0600044), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fpna A-22 VALOR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0600044), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fpna A-22 VALOR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600044), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Fpna A-22 VALOR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0600044), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot made several landings with his flight instructor on board. The instructor then exited the airplane and signed the student pilot off for his first solo flight. Two landings were uneventful, but on the third landing, the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane then pitched over and landed hard on the nose. A postaccident examination determined that the firewall had buckled. ## Factual narrative The student pilot made several landings with his flight instructor on board. The instructor then exited the airplane, and signed the student pilot off for the first solo flight. Two landings were uneventful, but on the third landing, the airplane ballooned during the flare. The airplane then pitched over, and landed hard on the nose. Post accident examination determined that the firewall had buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N730FP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N730FP), registered now, S/N 288, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FPNA LLC A-22 VALOR - Registry model: [Fpna A-22 VALOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/fpna-a-22-valor) (registry code 0600044) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 288 - Airframe hours: 212 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Central Valley Sportplanes Inc - Registered owner: Central Valley Sportplanes Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 17, 2011, 31 hours before - Departed: FCH, Fresno, CA - Destination: FCH, Fresno, CA - Airport: FCH, Fresno Chandler Executive Airp, runway 30, 3,630 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KFCH ## 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 20110923022559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110923022559A), Sep 23, 2011: Fpna LLC A-22 VALOR, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight . During the 3rd and final landing, the pilot mis-judged the landing attitude and caused the aircraft to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82006. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.