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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 3, 2005 · Cessna 172L · N3889Q

Stephenville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 3, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Stephenville, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 172L
Tail Number
N3889Q
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DFW05CA100

The 123-hour private pilot entered a left downwind for runway 14 (a 4,200-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway), and proceeded to fly a left traffic pattern. On final approach, the airplane had 20 degrees of flaps and was traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour. During touch down the airplane "porpoised and came off the ground." The pilot elected to abort the landing and then proceeded around the traffic pattern. After landing successfully, the pilot taxied the airplane to parking. The wind at the time of the mishap was from 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.

Full Narrative

On April 3, 2005, about 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 172L single-engine airplane, N3889Q, owned by a private individual, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing at the Clark Field Municipal Airport (SEP), near Stephenville, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated at the Collin County Regional Airport (TKI), near McKinney, Texas, approximately 1245, with SEP as its intended destination. In a written statement, the 123-hour private pilot reported that she entered a left downwind for runway 14 (a 4,200-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway), at SEP and proceeded to fly a left traffic pattern. She reported that, on final, the airplane had 20 degrees of flaps and was traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour. She felt "a little high and fast on final and was making throttle and pitch corrections." She was " pulling back slightly on the yoke when the rear wheels touched down, but the airplane porpoised and came off the ground." The pilot "attempted to fly the airplane just above the runway to allow it to settle back down on the runway when the damaging bounce occurred." The pilot then elected to abort the landing, added full power, and took off. She continued around the traffic pattern, landed successfully, and taxied the airplane to parking. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who responded to the accident, there was structural damage to the firewall. Additionally, the nose wheel cover was damaged. At 1445, the automated weather observing system at SEP reported wind from 180 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, a clear sky, temperature 73 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 33 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest AirportClark Field Municipal Airrport (0nm)
Runway14
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172L
Tail NumberN3889Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 15 kt, gusting 18 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point34 C
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time19:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data