# NTSB WPR23LA010: Cessna 172M, N73614, Burlington, WA, October 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2022, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.470526, -122.42168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4705&lon=-122.4217&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: SEA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA010 ## Probable cause The pilots improper landing flare and remedial action which resulted in a hard, 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 172M, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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 172M, 123 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072418), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072418), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing approach the winds were shifting, but he was still confident a landing could be achieved. The airplane then touched down hard and bounced. He attempted to ease back pressure on the control yoke, but the nose began to lower. The nose wheel subsequently struck the ground with an accompanying loud noise. The forward fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been avoided if he had applied full power and performed a go-around after the first touchdown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73614](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73614-2023-03-08), registration cancelled 2023-03-08, S/N 17267578, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267578 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 8228 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 02J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cascade Aviation, doing business as Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 22, 2022, 70 hours before - Departed: KBVS, Burlington, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: BVS, Skagit Rgnl, runway 29, 5,480 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review September 30, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,340 total, 71 in this make and model, 7,078 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: BVS - METAR: METAR KBVS 082155Z AUTO 29009KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A3015 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 20221008019139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221008019139A), Oct 8, 2022: Cessna 172M, Burlington, WA, Substantial damage. At 4:15 pm PDT, 10/8, Burlington, WA. A Cessna 172 landed hard on main gear at skagit regional airport (kbvs), bounced back up, came back down with the nose… ## Other investigations on N73614 (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 LAX87LA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA210), Apr 20, 1987: Cessna 172M (N73614), Hawthorne, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106119. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14953821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA010%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14884654&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=010photos-Rel-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.