# NTSB WPR12CA345: Cessna 172N, N738AJ, Ashland, OR, July 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2012, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Ashland, OR - Coordinates: 42.190277, -122.660552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1903&lon=-122.6606&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 October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84582 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84582/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84582 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA345 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot said that she was practicing short-field landings. On her third landing, she flared too early and landed hard. The airplane bounced and porpoised, which bent and wrinkled the lower half of the firewall. ## Factual narrative The student pilot said that she was practicing short-field landings. On her third landing, she flared too early and landed hard. The airplane bounced and porpoised, which bent and wrinkled the lower half of the firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N738AJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738AJ), registered now, S/N 17269823, built 1977 (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: 17269823 - Airframe hours: 8644 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Skinner Leasing LLC - Registered owner: Skinner Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2012 - Departed: S03, Ashland, OR - Destination: S03, Ashland, OR - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: S03, Ashland Municipal Arpt, runway 30, 3,603 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 58 total, 58 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: MFR ## 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 20120725015679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120725015679A), Jul 25, 2012: Cessna 172N, Ashland, OR, Substantial damage. Student pilot was practicing short field landings when she landed hard on the left main gear, struck the tail tie-down, and subsequently had nose gear hit… ## Other investigations on N738AJ (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 SEA79DYM20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79DYM20), Mar 13, 1979: Cessna 172 (N738AJ), Independence, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84582. 567 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375233&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.