# NTSB WPR13CA375: Cessna 172S, N544ER, Prescott, AZ, August 10, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2013, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.663333, -112.423614 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6633&lon=-112.4236&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 21, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA375
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87790/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87790
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA375

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## 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: [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 following a series of practice takeoff and landings, she noticed that the wind was increasing and decided to land. During the landing she did not flare enough, and the airplane touched down just prior to when she thought it would. The hard landing resulted in structural damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that following a series of practice takeoff and landings, she noticed that the wind was increasing and decided to land. During the landing she did not flare enough, and the airplane touched down just prior to when she thought it would. The hard landing resulted in structural damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N544ER (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10526
- Airframe hours: 4984
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- Registered owner: Avn Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 12, 2013, 30 hours before
- Departed: PRC, Prescott, AZ
- Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ
- Airport: PRC, Ernest A. Love Field Airport, runway 21L, 7,619 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1; seat: left; flight hours: 54 total, 54 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg

## 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 20130810014109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130810014109A), Aug 10, 2013: Cessna 172S, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Student pilot on second solo flight reported a downdraft just prior to flare. The aircraft landed nose wheel first. Propeller blades did not contact runway.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87790. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- NTSB Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.

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