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Cessna 172 porpoises eight times after hard landing

By NTSB · March 26, 2020 ·

The student pilot reported that, during a solo flight, as he flared for landing, the Cessna 172 “hit” the runway hard.

He added that, the airplane porpoised about seven or eight times before settling on the runway at the airport in New Bedford, Mass.

He then taxied the airplane to the parking ramp with no further incident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing.

NTSB Identification: GAA18CA199

This March 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. Gary says

    March 28, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    Even the big boys make mistakes like this.

  2. Norman Weston says

    March 28, 2020 at 6:29 am

    Ohhh hell I see guys all day long stalling at 10 or 12 ft…tough on the mains

  3. Leo says

    March 27, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    Ground effect, hi speed — who knows when in doubt go around— most important thing is to get him with an instructor get his confidence back — early mistakes can make the best pilots

  4. Phillip Mc kie says

    March 27, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    With that amount of porpoising normally there was some residual power on and a nose wheel landing then of course inexperience. That situation is remedied by going around or adding a touch of power and correcting the flare, runway length permitting.

  5. Robin J Savage says

    March 27, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    A little focus on the instructor may be required. I spent 15 years instructing in the Navy and I admit most student failures started with me. Fortunately no catastrophic fails. Just bruised egos and low scores.

  6. Mike says

    March 27, 2020 at 5:22 pm

    My guess he/she was pushing and pulling on the yoke with too much speed and no flare. Even with too much speed a flare will bleed airspeed until plane settles down. Should clearly practice with an instructor more and not the currant instructor not to find fault with currant instructor but just to have another teaching. Good thing no injuries.

  7. Joe Henry Gutierrez says

    March 27, 2020 at 12:30 pm

    Well, that’s better than nine ? I guess… “Duhh”.

  8. José Serra says

    March 27, 2020 at 10:48 am

    Was that student pilot sure he put the engine in idle when he felt the main gears where touching the ground?

  9. Gbenga Amedrovi says

    March 27, 2020 at 5:51 am

    Flared too high….also likely came in with too much airspeed on final. It is tough being a student pilot on Solo….you are your own teacher, no one there to correct your errors.

    • Warren Webb Jr says

      March 27, 2020 at 7:13 am

      Not likely a high flare. That bleeds off speed and there probably wouldn’t be enough energy left for seven to eight porpoises.

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