Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172R near Miami, FL — 2012-10-20

Final reportERA13CA044
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Date
2012-10-20
Location
Miami, FL, USA
Airport
TMB
Aircraft
CESSNA 172R
Registration
N974BC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor's improper power management during a steep, obstacle-clearance approach, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor, he was demonstrating to a student pilot the technique required to land the airplane on a short runway over a 50-foot obstacle. About 50 feet over the runway, at an airspeed of 60 knots, with flaps fully deployed, the instructor reduced the throttle to idle and pitched the nose down to "increase airspeed" and flare the airplane before touchdown. Immediately after reducing the engine power to idle, the airplane "sunk," and the instructor responded with a full throttle application. However, the airplane was "too close to the ground," and the engine did not respond in time to prevent a hard landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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