# NTSB WPR22LA123: Cessna 172S, N653ND, San Carlos, CA, March 7, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 6, 2022, 16:15 local (Mar 7, 2022, 00:15 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, CA · N37°30.71' / W122°14.97' - Coordinates: 37.3071, -122.1497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3071&lon=-122.1497&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 - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104781/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104781 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA123 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing. ## 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 172S, 206 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072439), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane reported that, while on short final to land, the airplane experienced a sudden loss of airspeed due to windshear. The pilot continued the approach and reported that he flared too high, and the airplane bounced during landing. He elected to go around, and during the second landing the airplane bounced again. During the third landing attempt, the pilot successfully landed the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage undercarriage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 330° at 12 knots. The pilot reported that during the accident flight, the wind was at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The airplane landed on runway 30. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N653ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N653ND), registered now, S/N 172S11469, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S (172S11469) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S11469 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 6515.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 2700 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pelican Flight Training LLC, doing business as Fly Bay Area - Registered owner: Und Aerospace Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 31, 2022, 53.8 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KSQL, San Carlos Airport, runway 30, 2,621 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 170 total, 32 in this make and model, 99 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KSQL, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KSQL 062247Z 33012KT 10SM FEW026 16/06 A3026= ## 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 20220306003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220306003689A), Mar 6, 2022: Cessna 172S, San Carlos, CA, Substantial damage. San Carlos, CA (sql): N653ND, C172, late report: Experienced hard landing that caused damage to Floor of aircraft. Damage not discovered Immediately. POB: 1,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104781. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13935306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N653ND%2001%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20FLATRedacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14278551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%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.