# NTSB WPR21LA157: Cessna 172P, N51380, Bellingham, WA, April 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 14, 2021, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Bellingham, WA - Coordinates: 48.792694, -122.53752 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7927&lon=-122.5375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Tscha - NTSB case key (mKey): 102913 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102913/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102913 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA157 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate flare resulting in a loss of control during landing with a crosswind and subsequent nose over. ## 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 172P, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072436), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 172P, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, he configured the airplane for landing on runway 34 and was compensating for a 9 kt left crosswind. The student pilot flared too aggressively, and the airplane ballooned, at which point he lost directional control. The airplane touched down and he applied excessive brake pressure. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51380](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51380), registered now, S/N 17274305, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274305 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 15745 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Regal Air - Registered owner: Aircraft Leasing Inc. C/O Regal Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2021, 31 hours before - Departed: PAE, Everett, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BLI, Bellingham Intl Airport, runway 34, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 63 total, 28 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: BLI ## 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 20210414009229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210414009229A), Apr 14, 2021: Cessna 172P, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. During landing on rwy 34, aircraft ballooned prior touchdown during flair. PIC decreased pitch, resulting in a hard landing. PIC then lost control as the… ## Other investigations on N51380 (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 SEA96LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA077), Apr 4, 1996: Cessna 172P (N51380), Friday Harbor, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudgment of the aircraft's altitude above the runway and failure to flare for landing. Darkness (bright night) was a related factor. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102913. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 846 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12277254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph of airplane (source of photo unknown) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12278035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-Photos-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.