# NTSB WPR14CA274: Cessna 172 - R, N1590W, Buckeye, AZ, May 19, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2014, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Buckeye, AZ - Coordinates: 33.3805, -112.549865 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3805&lon=-112.5499&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 September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA274 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89574/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89574 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA274 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072401), [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 172R, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 172R, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072401), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that at the last moment before touchdown a sudden gust of wind abruptly pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Able to maintain control with rudder input, after landing the pilot exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot conducted a visual examination of the airplane and detected no anomalies. He then departed to practice maneuvers before returning to the home base airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both propeller blade tips were damaged, the fuselage skin was wrinkled, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage as a result of a hard landing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that at the last moment before touchdown a sudden gust of wind abruptly pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Able to maintain control with rudder input, after landing the pilot exited the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot conducted a visual examination of the airplane and detected no anomalies. He then departed to practice maneuvers before returning to the home base airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both propeller blade tips were damaged, the fuselage skin was wrinkled, and the firewall had sustained substantial damage as a result of a hard landing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1590W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1590W), registered now, S/N 17281256, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17281256 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 3791 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind Aviation Incorporated - Registered owner: Westwind Aviation Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2014, 37 hours before - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: BXK, Buckeye, AZ - Airport: BXK, Buckeye Municipal, runway 35, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 8, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 217 total, 208 in this make and model, 161 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: BXK, 5 nm away ## Other investigations on N1590W (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 WPR15CA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA018), Oct 23, 2014: Cessna 172 - R (N1590W), Lake Havasu, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89574. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident-Incident Report form, 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident-Incident%20Report%20form,%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance report (item 2, .PDF, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 3, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-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.