# NTSB WPR15CA068: Cessna E162, N5216N, Santa Rosa, CA, November 15, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 15, 2014, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, CA - Coordinates: 38.5125, -122.814445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5125&lon=-122.8144&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 March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90519/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90519 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA068 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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 162, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=060005E), [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 162, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an initial solo flight, the student pilot was conducting a series of three takeoff and landings. During the second landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and landed on the nose wheel landing gear, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel landing gear was compressed upward and aft into the firewall and fuselage structure. The student pilot reported that at the time of the accident, no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures existed that would of precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative During an initial solo flight, the student pilot was conducting a series of three takeoff and landings. During the second landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and landed on the nose wheel landing gear, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel landing gear was compressed upward and aft into the firewall and fuselage structure. The student pilot reported that at the time of the accident, no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures existed that would of precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5216N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5216N), registered now, S/N 16200047, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO E162 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16200047 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: North Coast Air - Registered owner: Skycatcher N162ah LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: STS, Santa Rosa, CA - Destination: STS, Santa Rosa, CA - Airport: STS, Sonoma County, runway 14, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KSTS, 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 20141115023759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141115023759A), Nov 15, 2014: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Santa Rosa, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on runway 14 at Charles m. schultz airport in Santa Rosa, CA. The aircraft bounced after the first touchdown then landed hard on the second… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 18, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90519. 7.2 MB in all. - Student Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Flight Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-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. --- 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.