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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 9, 2003 · Cessna 172P · N52546

Concord, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 9, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Concord, NC
Aircraft
Cessna 172P
Tail Number
N52546
Operator
Francis Michael Mclaurin
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL03LA060

The pilot initiated the landing flare at idle or very low power, and the airplane bounced about four times. Each bounce was higher and more pronounced than the previous one. The pilot stated that he thought the bounces would stop, and he concentrated on keeping the airplane as straight as possible on the runway. After the third or fourth bounce, the nosewheel tire blew, and the propeller struck the ground. The airplane came to a stop in the center of the runway, and the pilot shut down the engine. The pilot stated that, after the accident, he flew with a flight instructor and learned what a porpoise condition is, how to recognize it, and how to recover the airplane from it.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare during touchdown and failure to properly recover from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control and inflight collision with the runway. A factor was the pilot did not understand the porpoise condition during landing.

Full Narrative

On March 8, 2003, at 2015 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N52546, registered to ISO Aero Service, Inc., and operated by the private pilot, collided with the runway during a bounced landing at Concord Regional Airport in Concord, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a visual flight rules plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight originated in Concord, North Carolina, about 1915. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 20 at Concord Regional Airport in Concord, North Carolina. The pilot stated the approach was normal and on glideslope at 65 knots with 20 degrees of flaps. He stated he performed the landing flare at idle or very low power, and the airplane bounced. The pilot stated that, after the second bounce, "the characteristic of the plane seemed to change with the bounces becoming higher and more pronounced than the previous ones." The pilot stated he thought the bounces would stop, and he concentrated on keeping the airplane as straight as possible on the runway. After the third or fourth bounce, the nosewheel tire blew, and the propeller struck the ground. The airplane came to a stop in the center of the runway, and the pilot shut down the engine. Examination of the airplane revealed buckling of the right side of the fuselage near the main landing gear strut, buckling of the firewall near the lower right engine mount, buckling of the floor, damage to the nose gear, and damage to both propeller blade tips. The pilot stated that, after the accident, he flew with a flight instructor and learned what a porpoise condition is, how to recognize it, and how to recover the airplane from it.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:15 EST
Nearest AirportConcord Regional (0nm NNE)
Runway20
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172P
Tail NumberN52546
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFrancis Michael Mclaurin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2J · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind200° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 43 C
Altimeter30.07 inHg
Observation Time01:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data