# NTSB WPR13CA225: Cessna 172N, N7610F, Newcastle, WY, May 10, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 10, 2013, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Newcastle, WY
- Coordinates: 43.884718, -104.31736 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8847&lon=-104.3174&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSFO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA225
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86859/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86859
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA225

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.

## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that while on final approach for landing, about 20 feet above ground level and about 15 feet from the approach end of the runway, the airplane began to sink and that it touched down hard off the runway surface. The nose wheel dug into the terrain, and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot stated that while on final approach for landing, about 20 feet above ground level, and about 15 feet from the approach end of the runway, the airplane began to sink and it touched down hard off the runway surface. Subsequently, the nose wheel dug into the terrain and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7610F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7610F-2017-10-20), registration cancelled 2017-10-20, S/N 17273268, built 1979 (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: 17273268
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flightline Inc
- Registered owner: Flightline Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GCC, Gillette, WY
- Destination: KECS, Newcastle, WY
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: KECS, Mondell Field Airport, runway 31, 5,300 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 51; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 53 total, 53 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KECS, 1 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 20130510007609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130510007609A), May 10, 2013: Cessna 172N, Newcastle, WY, Substantial damage. On may 10, 2013, at approximately 1030 MDT, a Cessna model CE-172 with registration number N7610F impacted the ground approximately 25 feet short of runway 31…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86859. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394037&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.

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