Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172P near Brooksville, FL — 2012-03-24

Final reportERA12LA259
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Date
2012-03-24
Location
Brooksville, FL, USA
Airport
BKV
Aircraft
CESSNA 172P
Registration
N99087
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

An airport ramp employee reported observing the airplane "porpoise" three times during the landing, followed by a tail strike, which he saw and heard. The pilot performed a go-around and remained in the traffic pattern for a full stop landing. The ramp employee observed the pilot and his passengers leave the airplane without performing an external inspection. During postaccident interviews, the pilot who was flying the airplane reported that he was performing a touch-and-go landing and bounced once during the initial touchdown. He stated that he did not land hard or experience a tail strike. The damage to the cabin floor, the engine firewall, and the tail strike bar was discovered later in the day by another pilot preparing to fly the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have performed a thorough pre-flight inspection for damage.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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