# NTSB WPR14CA074: Cessna 172M, N80238, Fullerton, CA, December 23, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 23, 2013, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Coordinates: 33.871944, -117.979721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-117.9797&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 May 21, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88582/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88582
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA074

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.

## 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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The operator stated that the student pilot had amassed over 40 flight hours and was performing a local area practice flight. During landing, the airplane touched down hard and bounced several times down the runway surface. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. The operator reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The operator stated that the student pilot had amassed over 40 flight hours and was performing a local area practice flight. During landing, the airplane touched down hard and bounced several times down the runway surface. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the firewall. The operator reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80238](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80238), registered now, S/N 17266466, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266466
- Year built: 1975
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: FUL, Fullerton, CA
- Destination: FUL, Fullerton, CA
- Airport: FUL, Fullerton Muni, runway 24, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 63; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 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 20131223025059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131223025059A), Dec 23, 2013: Cessna 172M, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot had previously performed multiple solo flights and a solo cross country; the solo flights included landings at several different airports.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88582. 761 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 659 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation- Operator (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-%20Operator-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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