# NTSB WPR21LA364: Cessna 172, N84068, Auburn, CA, September 19, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 19, 2021, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Auburn, CA - Coordinates: 38.954833, -121.08172 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9548&lon=-121.0817&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: Stewart - NTSB case key (mKey): 104147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104147/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104147 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA364 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate flare which resulted in a hard and bounced landing. ## 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 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) - [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 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 · Student/instructed 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) ## 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 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) ## Analysis The operator reported that, the purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to perform his second solo flight. During his first landing, the airplane’s airspeed was fast. The airplane was diving toward the runway in a nose-low attitude and the nose wheel touched first. The airplane bounced several times before settling on the runway. The lower floorboards and firewall were substantially damaged. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84068](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84068-2023-06-19), registration cancelled 2023-06-19, S/N 17258321, 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: 17258321 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3497 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Citabria, doing business as Sunshine Flyers - Registered owner: Citabria - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2021, 10 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AUN, Auburn Muni, runway 07/25, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KAUN - METAR: METAR KAUN 192115Z AUTO 29005KT 10SM FEW050 FEW055 23/09 A3008 RMK A01 ## 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 20210919016179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210919016179A), Sep 19, 2021: Cessna 172K, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. Student on initial solo flight. After take-off aircraft climbed to approximately 20 feet the rapidly descended back down to the runway landing very hard.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104147. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12979917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Records of conversations (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12979795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2002%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversations-Rel.pdf - Photographs (provided by FAA) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12980546&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.