# NTSB WPR13CA345: Cessna 162, N1205J, Tacoma, WA, July 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 28, 2013, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Tacoma, WA - Coordinates: 47.267776, -122.578056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2678&lon=-122.5781&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 November 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87605/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87605 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA345 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper level off/flare resulted in a hard landing/bounce and subsequent nose gear collapse. ## 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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the first touch-and-go landing, the touchdown was firmer than normal and the airplane bounced. The pilot recovered from the bounce and continued to land. As he lowered the nose, the nose wheel collpased and the airplane veered off to the left side of the runway. Postaccident documentation of the runway identified witness marks on the runway that indicated the nosewheel strut had impacted the runway, followed by some distance later the nose gear fully collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the gear that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the first touch-and-go landing, the touchdown was firmer than normal and the airplane bounced. The pilot recovered from the bounce and continued to land. As he lowered the nose, the nose wheel collpased and the airplane veered off to the left side of the runway. Postaccident documentation of the runway identified witness marks on the runway that indicated the nosewheel strut had impacted the runway, followed by some distance later the nose gear fully collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the gear that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1205J (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16200064 - Airframe hours: 330.9 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dd Corporation - Registered owner: Dd Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2013 - Departed: KTIW, Tacoma, WA - Destination: KTIW, Tacoma, WA - Airport: KTIW, Tacoma Narrows Airport, runway 17, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 173 total, 91 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KTIW ## 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 20130728014419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130728014419A), Jul 28, 2013: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Tacoma, WA, Substantial damage. A/c coming into approach to rwy 17 at tiw, cleared for landing. Aircraft touches left main gear, a/c goes back up, comes back down on nose gear. Bounce on nose… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87605. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 268 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Initial witness mark (item 2, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Initial%20witness%20mark-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Nose gear collapse witness marks (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Nose%20gear%20collapse%20witness%20marks-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Nose gear (item 4, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Nose%20gear-Master.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.