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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 7, 2007 · Cessna 172S · N533ER

Payson, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 7, 2007
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Payson, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 172S
Tail Number
N533ER
Operator
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX07CA171

The airplane landed hard, bouncing multiple times before coming to rest on an adjacent taxiway. In an attempt to allow excessive airspeed to decay, the pilot elected to land 1,700 feet beyond the threshold. The airplane contacted the runway with the nose wheel and the propeller striking first. The airplane then bounced, and landed hard approximately 95 feet further down the runway, again sustaining propeller strikes. It became airborne for another 125 feet before striking the runway and departing to the left, passing through turf and coming to rest on the adjacent taxiway. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, excessive airspeed on final approach, and failure to execute a go-around resulting in a misjudged flare and hard landing.

Full Narrative

On May 7, 2006, about 0920 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N533ER, porpoised during landing at Payson Airport, Payson, Arizona. General Electric Finance Corporation owned the airplane, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University operated it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight departed Prescott, Arizona, about 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The operator stated in a written report that the pilot was on his first VFR solo cross-country flight. The airplane approached Payson from the northwest, and entered a right traffic pattern for runway 24. The first approach resulted in an aborted landing due to a high, overshooting base to final turn. The second approach resulted in excessive airspeed on final, with the pilot attempting to land long and allow for a decay in airspeed. The airplane contacted the runway about 1,700 feet beyond the threshold with the nose wheel and the propeller striking the runway first. The airplane then bounced, and landed hard approximately 95 feet further down the runway, again sustaining propeller strikes. It became airborne for another 125 feet before striking the runway and departing to the left, passing through turf and coming to rest on the adjacent taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage including a buckled and split firewall, propeller strikes, and a destroyed nose wheel tire and bearing. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 MST
Nearest AirportPAYSON (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172S
Tail NumberN533ER
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-L2A · Reciprocating
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 69 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data