# NTSB WPR12CA049: Cessna 172K, N7952A, Napa, CA, November 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 28, 2011, 15:38 local (23:38 UTC) - Place: Napa, CA - Coordinates: 38.208889, -122.279724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2089&lon=-122.2797&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 March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 82426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82426/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82426 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA049 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare, inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and loss of directional control. ## 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: [Cessna 172K, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [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: [Cessna 172K, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that this was his fourth solo flight and that he had accumulated about 2 hours of solo flying experience. He flew to a nearby airport for practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs and was planning a standard rectangular pattern. As he approached the airfield, a tower air traffic controller instructed him to perform a straight-in approach. This was the student pilot’s first attempt at a straight-in landing, and he had difficulty stabilizing the airplane’s flight path before touchdown. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane rolled into muddy terrain, bending the nose wheel landing gear mounting structure and the engine firewall. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot stated that this was his fourth solo flight and he had accumulated about 2 hours of solo flying. He flew to a nearby airport for touch-and-go landing practice and was planning a standard rectangular pattern. As he approached the airfield, an air traffic control tower operator instructed him to land straight in. This was the student pilot’s first attempt at a straight-in landing and he had difficulty stabilizing the airplane’s flight path before touchdown. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane rolled into muddy terrain, bending the nose wheel landing gear mounting structure and the engine firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7952A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7952A-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 17258146, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258146 - Airframe hours: 7363 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Stratus Aviation, LLC, doing business as Wings Flight School - Registered owner: Welch Lamont R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 25, 2011 - Departed: VCB, Vacaville, CA - Destination: APC, Napa, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: APC, Napa County Airport, runway 24, 5,007 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: APC ## 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 20111128027329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111128027329A), Nov 28, 2011: Cessna 172K, Napa, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot (GG-104899) lost directional control during touch and go landing runway 24, veered off left side of runway into the dirt, and collapsed the nose… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82426. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360828&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.