# NTSB WPR21LA186: Cessna 172P, N54140, Tucson, AZ, May 8, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 8, 2021, 10:27 local (17:27 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ · KRYN - Coordinates: 32.142211, -111.17457 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1422&lon=-111.1746&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: 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): 103052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103052/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103052 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA186 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper pitch control and landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounce and subsequent porpoised landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [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) ## 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 172P, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during a supervised solo training flight, he was instructed to remain within the airport traffic pattern and perform three full stop takeoffs and landings. During the second landing, the airplane porpoised and veered left, so he aborted the landing and initiated a go-around. The student’s flight instructor observed the solo flight and recalled that the wind was light and variable. He reported that during the student’s third landing, the airplane floated for several seconds before the nose dropped and the airplane landed hard. Subsequently, the airplane bounced, a porpoise ensued, and a propeller strike occurred. The airplane remained on the runway and the student pilot taxied to the parking area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage forward bulkheads and stringers. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54140](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54140-2024-09-05), registration cancelled 2024-09-05, S/N 17274887, built 1981 (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: 17274887 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 7103.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Daniel Mosier, doing business as Plane Folks LLC - Registered owner: Nelson E. Daley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2021, 11.7 hours before - Airport: RYN, Ryan Fld, runway 06L/24R, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 50.6 total, 50.6 in this make and model, 6.3 as pilot in command, 17.5 in the last 90 days, 9.5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KRYN, 1 nm away - METAR: KRYN 081645Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/M07 A2995 ## 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 20210508008239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210508008239A), May 8, 2021: Cessna 172P, Marana, AZ, Substantial damage. While conducting solo pattern work (full stop taxi back) while the instructor was observing from the ground, the student pilot lost control during the flare of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103052. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12282504&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cfi/witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12283500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor_Witness%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 418 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12283405&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.