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GAA17CA312

2017-05-30 · El Cajon, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SEE

Current FAA registration · N483SP

Make / Model
CESSNA 172S
Year of manufacture
1998 · 19 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING I0-360-B1E (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19980928
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5F55C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot's incorrect landing flare, which resulted in the airplane porpoising upon touchdown.

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during the second landing of the flight, the "nose wheel touched [the] ground first" and the airplane porpoised. He added that he applied power to abort the landing and subsequently completed a normal traffic pattern and landing. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot reported that, during the second landing of the flight, the "nose wheel touched [the] ground first," and the airplane porpoised. He added that he applied power to abort the landing and subsequently completed a normal traffic pattern and landing. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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_2017_GAA17CA312.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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