# NTSB WPR21LA241: Cessna 172, N79523, Moose Creek Ranger Station, ID, June 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 20, 2021, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Moose Creek Ranger Station, ID - Coordinates: 46.120751, -114.92733 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1208&lon=-114.9273&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 103323 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103323/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103323 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA241 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced hard landing and subsequent nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072430), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072430), [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 172K, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072430), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 172K, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072430), [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 172K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072430), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in the pattern for landing, he turned a short base leg, followed by a short final approach leg. A “rapid roundout” was initiated at touchdown which resulted in the airplane bouncing. During the last bounce, the nose gear sheared off and the airplane subsequently nosed over coming to rest inverted. The right wing and wing lift strut 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: [N79523](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79523-2023-01-14), registration cancelled 2023-01-14, S/N 17258148, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17258148 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 2740 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2020, 16 hours before - Departed: KPUW, Pullman, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 1U1, Moose Creek /Usfs/, runway 04/22, 2,300 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 370 total, 213.9 in this make and model, 370 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KP69, 28 nm away - METAR: KP69 201952Z AUTO VRB04KT 28/11 A2997 RMK AO1 SLP125 T02830111 ## 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 20210620007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210620007939A), Jun 20, 2021: Cessna 172K, Kooskia, ID, Substantial damage. Approach to the runway was faster than normal and too steep. Aircraft porpoised upon landing and eventually flipped over on its back. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103323. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12678926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20241_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12678558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20241-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.