# NTSB WPR23LA062: Cessna 172N, N422B, Socorro, NM, December 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 10, 2022, 11:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Socorro, NM - Coordinates: 34.022472, -106.90313 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0225&lon=-106.9031&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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106441 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106441/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106441 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing and loss of control in gusting wind. ## 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 172N, 150 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072434), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 172N, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/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 172N, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, while on approach, the airplane encountered turbulence with wind gusts. During the flare, the airplane landed hard and bounced. A wind gust raised the right wing turning the airplane off the runway to the left side toward rising terrain. The pilot applied full power to avoid the terrain when the stall warning horn sounded. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain, substantially damaging both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N422B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N422B), registered now, S/N 17268342 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17268342 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 12346.7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Evans Jack J - Registered owner: Evans Jack J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 23, 2022 - Departed: KABQ, Albequerque, NM - Destination: KONM, Socorro, NM - Airport: KONM, Socorro Airport, runway 33, 5,841 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 36.7 total, 36.7 in this make and model, 33.9 in the last 90 days, 5.9 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KONM, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KONM 101815Z AUTO 36009KT 10SM CLR 08/M03 A3022 RMK AO2 T00821034= ## 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 20221210020199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221210020199A), Dec 10, 2022: Cessna 172N, Socorro, NM, Substantial damage. Date and time of accident: 12/10/2022 at 13:00 local time Aircraft: C-172N Owner/operator: [privacy data omitted] Accident type: landing/loss of control Phase… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106441. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 13.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15351279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N422B%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15368435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20N422B-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.