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GAA17CA080

2016-11-19 · Woodbine, New Jersey, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OBI

Current FAA registration · N5249R

Make / Model
CESSNA 172M
Year of manufacture
1974 · 42 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19740712
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A69B6D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust and began to porpoise on the runway. The student pilot further reported that the nose wheel collapsed, the airplane skidded off the runway to the left, and nosed over. The fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings sustained substantial damage. The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observing system 14 nautical miles from the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 160 degrees true at 12 knots. The student pilot reported that he landed on runway 13. The student pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report. The solo student pilot reported that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust and began to porpoise on the runway. The student pilot further reported that the nose wheel collapsed, the airplane skidded off the runway to the left, and nosed over. The fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and both wings sustained substantial damage. The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observing system 14 nautical miles from the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 160 degrees true at 12 knots. The student pilot reported that he landed on runway 13. The student pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA17CA080.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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