Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182P near Long Beach, CA — 2010-03-13

Final reportWPR10CA159
Sign in to save
Date
2010-03-13
Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
Airport
LGB
Aircraft
CESSNA 182P
Registration
N52630
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The flight was the student pilot’s first supervised solo flight. The takeoff, crosswind, and downwind legs of the flight appeared to be normal and well controlled. The approach seemed normal with an attitude appropriate for landing. The student turned into the final leg with the flaps set to 30 degrees and with the airspeed at 85 knots. He felt that he was a little high, so he set the flaps to 40 degrees. He adjusted power and attitude to maintain airspeed. He thought that the approach was stabilized and he shifted his gaze forward and reduced power as he passed over the runway end. He thought that he leveled a little high, and landed flat. The airplane bounced hard enough to dislodge his glasses. He raised the nose, the airplane bounced again, and then landed nose-down on the runway. The student's instructor was observing the landing and thought that the flare was a little high, with the airplane touching down main-wheels-first, with the nose slightly up. The nosewheel then quickly hit the ground and the airplane bounced 2 to 3 feet. The airplane touched down again in a flat or slightly nose down attitude and bounced again. It came down in about a 20-degree nose-low attitude on the third and final touchdown and the propeller hit first. The nosewheel and strut folded backwards under the cowling and the firewall buckled. The airplane came to rest with the tail up and the engine stopped.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Student could have maintained power and attitude better during final approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

Related mishaps