CESSNA 172P near Los Angeles, CA — 2015-04-30

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain attitude control during the landing flare, resulting in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

On the student pilot's first supervised solo flight; she reported that on her first landing the airplane porpoised three times and then came to a full stop. She taxied back to the departure end of the runway for a second takeoff. On her second landing the airplane porpoised four times, she taxied back to her flight school without further incident. As a result of the hard landing and subsequent porpoise, the flight instructor conducted a postaccident examination of the engine and airframe, and substantial damage to the firewall was discovered. The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

• Hard landing · Landing-flare/touchdown

Evidence available

• Photos
• 5 docket documents

Docket documents5

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Record of Email (Chief Pilot)other
• Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot)other
• Photo 1-View of firewall damage (photo courtesy of the FAA)photos
• Photo 2-View of right side floor damage (photo courtesy of the FAA)photos

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