# NTSB WPR20CA293: Cessna 172, N103VK, Phoenix, AZ, August 18, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 18, 2020, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.688331, -112.082496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101894
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA293
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101894/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101894
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA293

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper pitch attitude and landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructors delayed remedial action.

## 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: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: [Cessna 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot receiving instruction reported that, while practicing a short field landing, he misjudged the touch down location, flared early and the airplane landed hard. The flight instructor reported that, he warned the pilot to maintain his pitch attitude, but he continued to flare and the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nose wheel. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot receiving instruction reported that, while practicing a short field landing, he misjudged the touch down location, flared early and the airplane landed hard. The flight instructor reported that, he warned the pilot to maintain his pitch attitude, but he continued to flare and the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nose wheel. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N103VK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N103VK), registered now, S/N 172S8532, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S8532
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 4369.7
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Westwind School of Aeronautics LLC
- Registered owner: Westwind School of Aeronautics LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 2020, 35.3 hours before
- Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ
- Destination: DVT, Phoenix, AZ
- Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 07R, 8,196 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 205 total, 205 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 639 total, 328 in this make and model, 563 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 108 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KDVT

## 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 20200818013709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200818013709A), Aug 18, 2020: Cessna 172S, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. The accident occurred during a training flight on 08/18/2020 at dvt. The private pilot certificated student was practicing short approaches, accompanied by a…

## Other investigations on N103VK (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 WPR26LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA015), Oct 4, 2025: Cessna 172S (N103VK), Lathrop, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inflight collision with a bird.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101894. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11340896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA293%20NTSB%206120%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of e-mail correspondence CFI and pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11340433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20e-mail%20correspondence%20(CFI%20and%20Pilot)-Rel.pdf
- Damage photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11340107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photos-Rel.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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