# NTSB WPR20CA300: Cessna 172, N172CS, Stuart Island, WA, September 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 7, 2020, 12:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Stuart Island, WA - Coordinates: 48.684444, -123.20972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6844&lon=-123.2097&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - 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): 101936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101936/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101936 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper approach airspeed and landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [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 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a steep approach, the airplane touched down with “excessive” speed and the airplane bounced hard and nosed over. The left-wing lift strut and the tailcone were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N172CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172CS-2021-11-06), registration cancelled 2021-11-06, S/N 17262260, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (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: 17262260 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 8745.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2020, 14.2 hours before - Departed: WN53, Lake Stevens, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 2WA3, Stuart Island West, runway 270, 1,560 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 534 total, 205 in this make and model, 482 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: CYYJ, 8 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 20200907013789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200907013789A), Sep 7, 2020: Cessna 172M, Stuart Island, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that it was a short field approach to grass strip. He had a great approach, but later discovered he had a tailwind. The airplane bounced and he… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101936. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 690 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11413698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20300_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11413542&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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. --- 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.